Another issue under scrutiny is the purchase of technological equipment and tickets for amounts in the millions. These were allegedly acquired from a faculty member connected to Parisi, owner of a travel agency, without following bidding procedures.
Prosecutor Enrique Senestrari accused her of fraudulent administration and breach of duties as a public official
Another issue under scrutiny is the purchase of technological equipment and tickets for amounts in the millions. These were allegedly acquired from a faculty member connected to Parisi, owner of a travel agency, without following bidding procedures.
Federal prosecutor Enrique Senestrari charged Mariela Parisi, former dean of the School of Communication Sciences at UNC. She is accused of fraudulent administration and breach of public official duties. The case was filed with Federal Court No. 3, presided over by Miguel Hugo Vaca Narvaja.
The investigation began after a complaint was filed in February of this year. The complaint alleged misappropriation of funds and irregular hiring practices. The judiciary has not yet set a date for the preliminary hearing.
It is alleged that during Parisi's administration faculty resources may have been used for personal expenses. These include international trips with excessive per diems, purchases without public bidding, and hiring of immediate family members.
The prosecutor is investigating receipts for fuel and parking expenses without identified license plates. He is also reviewing resolutions that authorized expenses without specifying amounts. Additional trips to destinations such as Ecuador and Costa Rica are included, many of them without prior authorization.
An audit revealed that several of the recorded expenses did not comply with current legal provisions. This report detected irregularities in direct purchases and in the reimbursement of per diems. It also raised concerns about payments without sufficient supporting documentation.
Mariela Parisi denied the accusations and stated that she did not commit any crimes during her administration. According to her version, the audit's findings only reflect "procedural irregularities" and not acts of corruption.
Her defense claims that some expenses were covered with personal funds and not public money. It also keeps that administrative delays explain the lack of prior authorizations for trips and hiring.
Additionally, it was argued that extension courses did not require teaching credentials for instructors. According to Parisi, this would have led to direct hiring without further requirements.
