Five police officers from Córdoba will stand trial for crimes committed while in judicial custody.

Judge Gustavo Hidalgo decided  to send five Córdoba police officers to trial for crimes committed at Judicial Depot No. 2, located in Potrero del Estado. The accused are Commissioner Víctor Daniel Cabral, Deputy Commissioner Julio Jorge Benítez, Officer Carlos Ariel Contreras, Corporal Belén Villagra, and Corporal José María Ramacciotti. The investigation covers thefts between May 2020 and December 2021 and includes 33 motorcycles, car parts, and a bicycle found at Villagra's house.

Cabral, Benítez, Contreras, and Villagra face charges for breach of duty and concealment, while Ramacciotti is accused of theft using a police vehicle. According to the judge, the thefts would not have been possible without the actions or omissions of the depot chiefs, who were responsible for ensuring the security of the seized property. The lack of proper protocols and controls may have facilitated the removal of stolen vehicles and the manipulation of stored items.

It is possible to detect the security deficiencies of the premises, identifying the absence of preventive measures that would have prevented the commission of the crimes. Officer Contreras is accused of failing to properly control the entrance and exit gate, which allowed the irregular movement of the stolen motorcycles. The case was handled by the Economic Criminal Instruction Prosecutor's Office of Córdoba, which gathered essential evidence and testimonies to bring the case to trial.

Serious failures in custody and questionable conduct by police officers

Investigators emphasized that the negligence of Chiefs Cabral and Benítez directly contributed to the vulnerability of the depot, creating opportunities for theft. Villagra and Contreras allegedly facilitated the manipulation of items and the removal of vehicles, compromising the integrity of the facility. Prosecutors maintain that internal protocols were systematically ignored, allowing the offenses to be repeated without timely intervention.

Ramacciotti's actions, using an official vehicle to transport the stolen motorcycle, demonstrate a flagrant abuse of authority and public resources. The presence of the bicycle at Villagra's residence suggests that the concealment included the distribution of goods among those involved. The investigation aims to demonstrate that the five police officers took advantage of their positions to commit crimes and obstruct justice, undermining public trust.

The conduct of these officers demonstrates serious irregularities in the performance of their duties and an alarming lack of professional ethics. The negligence of superiors and the active participation of other officers undermine the credibility of the police institution. Incidents of this magnitude require exemplary sanctions and a review of internal control mechanisms to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.