Córdoba: legal adviser indicted for fraud in judicial competitions resigned

Legal advisor Eduardo Santiago Caeiro, under investigation for irregularities in competitions within the Córdoba Judiciary, has submitted his resignation. The decision will be addressed by the Superior Court of Justice and the provincial Executive Branch, which must determine the next steps. The resignation will take effect in October but doesn't halt the ongoing criminal proceedings.

The case originated in November 2023 following a complaint from the judicial employees' union (AGEPJ). They indicated that Caeiro may have leaked exam questions in a competition for public defense assistant collaborators. The scheme sought to benefit candidates close to the official.

In April of this year, prosecutor Enrique Gavier charged Caeiro with breach of confidentiality. Four contestants allegedly benefited were also accused: Mariana Lorenzatti, Paz María Sonzini Astudillo, Florencia Zuliani, and Ana Martha Ruiz Tamagnini. The case remains under criminal and administrative investigation.

Progress of the investigation

AGEPJ maintained that the resignation doesn't mean the case is closed and called for the investigation to move forward. "We defend the transparency of the competition system," they stated in a press release. They insisted that access to positions must guarantee equality and not political favoritism.

In August, the Control Court rejected requests from the defenses of Caeiro and Sonzini Astudillo. The court considered that the arguments regarding lack of criminality were premature and should be solved at a critical stage. This way, the continuation of the criminal proceedings was confirmed by the Judiciary.

The case file is progressing with witness statements and document analysis.  Investigators are determining whether irregularities occurred in other competitions. Witness accounts point to similar schemes in different selection processes, which has heightened suspicions within the judicial sphere.

Institutional impact

The case undermines the credibility of the Córdoba Judiciary's competition system. The transparency of these processes is key to ensuring public trust. Without clear rules, positions can become a mechanism for political appointments rather than a space for merit.

The investigation will continue in parallel with the administrative processing of the resignation.  Caeiro will be formally removed from his position but will remain charged. The judicial case will be decisive in establishing responsibilities and determining whether there was systematic fraud in the competitions.