Córdoba: the province must pay $171 million for a corrupt former commissioner

The Civil and Commercial Court of Appeals in Córdoba confirmed that the Province must pay more than $171 million to a company that was the victim of a robbery. The ruling arises from the direct involvement of former commissioner Oscar Omar Ludueña, who cleared the area so a criminal gang could act in 2019. The case exposes how old politics allow corrupt officials to harm society, with the State ultimately paying for their excesses.

The former police chief was sentenced in 2021 to four years in prison for being a necessary participant in the gang robbery. His accomplices confessed and also received sentences. However, the affected company, Acuerdos SRL, filed a civil claim against the Province for the economic damage suffered.

The judiciary ruled that the State is responsible, even though Ludueña was off duty on the day of the crime. Judge Ilse Ellerman had issued the initial ruling against the provincial State, and now the Court has rejected the official appeal. The ruling reaffirms that the commissioner's complicity was decisive, since he used police radios and official frequencies to guarantee the crime's impunity.

The multimillion-dollar robbery with police support

The robbery took place between May 26 and 27, 2019, when the criminals entered the motorcycle parts company in the Vipro neighborhood, in the south of the capital. After bypassing the security system, they loaded expensive accessories into a pickup truck. The key was the commissioner's complicity, which ensured the absence of police at the scene.

The gang made several trips to transport the loot, valued at more than $15 million, to a warehouse in the José Ignacio Díaz neighborhood. The criminal logistics were possible thanks to information provided by Ludueña, who had been promoted to commissioner just six months earlier. This promotion reflected a system permeated by privilege instead of merit.

Finally, the gang was surprised by a patrol car during their escape. Although the commissioner was not detained at the scene, the judiciary established that his contribution was decisive for the success of the criminal plan.

The cost of corruption and the State's conviction

The company, represented by attorneys Carlos Nayi and María Herrera Piozzi, sued the provincial State for damages. They argued that the robbery was carried out thanks to the police official's poor performance, who used state resources to commit a crime. The judiciary ruled in their favor and held the Province directly responsible.

The Court's ruling rejected the provincial defense, which sought to avoid responsibility due to the commissioner's off-duty status. The appellate judges emphasized that the employment relationship with the State makes its responsibility inexcusable. The use of official frequencies and police equipment was decisive in carrying out the robbery.

In total, the Province must pay $171,912,347, an amount that includes compensation to the company and court costs. This case reveals how abuses of power by old politics end up being financed by taxpayers, repeating a historic pattern of impunity and privilege.