The oral trial must determine if there was an organized criminal structure that operated under the protection of Potenciar Trabajo
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The head of Polo Obrero, Eduardo Belliboni, was sent to oral and public trial by federal judge Sebastián Casanello, in the framework of the case investigating him for alleged extortion of beneficiaries of the Potenciar Trabajo plan and fraud against the national State. The decision also reaches another 17 people, accused of participating in a criminal network with a scheme of fraudulent administration, coercive threats, and extortion.
"The investigation has revealed a complex criminal matrix that for years took advantage of the needs of a broad vulnerable social sector", prosecutor Gerardo Pollicita had warned when requesting the elevation of the case to trial.
Casanello closed the investigation stage and now the draw of the Federal Oral Court of Comodoro Py that will carry out the trial is due. The magistrate also summoned an additional group of people linked to the creation of shell companies and the issuance of false invoices, used to triangulate funds and cover up the diversions.
Belliboni and a power network over vulnerable sectors
According to the prosecutor's ruling, Belliboni led a structure that coerced the beneficiaries of the social plan with the aim of obtaining funds "for his own benefit and that of third parties", taking advantage of their vulnerable situation. The prosecutor keeps that the victims were manipulated to hand over part of the money they received or to participate in political actions under threat of losing the state benefit.
Eduardo Belliboni irá a juicio oral por extorsión y fraude con dinero público
Among the accused who will also face trial are María Dotti, Mariano Centanni, Erica Lubenfeld, Iván Ortíz, Ezequiel Coego, Gianna Puppo, Gustavo Vásquez, and Rossmery Grande Arancibia, among others.
The defense questioned the elevation to trial
The defenses of Belliboni and the other implicated tried to stop the progress of the process, questioning the legitimacy of the Ministry of Human Capital's complaint, the alleged untimeliness of the prosecutor's request, and the recusal of prosecutor Pollicita. They also argued that "the State did not see its assets harmed," since the agreed counter-services would have been fulfilled.
Eduardo Belliboni irá a juicio oral por extorsión y fraude con dinero público
However, Casanello dismissed those claims. "Numerous documentary, testimonial, and computer evidence has been gathered, sufficient to prove —with the degree of certainty required at this stage— both the commission of the crimes and the participation of the accused," the judge ruled.
This judicial advance marks a new chapter in the investigations into the use of social programs and the potential political and economic exploitation of vulnerable sectors. The oral trial must determine whether there was an organized criminal structure that operated under the protection of Potenciar Trabajo, one of the country's most massive social plans.
