In a ruling that marks a turning point in the fight against political corruption in Argentina, the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation upheld the unique sentence of 15 years in prison and absolute disqualification against Milagro Sala, leader of the Tupac Amaru organization. The decision of the highest court, which rejected a complaint filed by the defense, unifies and ratifies firm sentences for crimes committed between 2009 and 2014, including illicit association, fraud against public administration, extortion, and threats.
The ruling was signed by ministers Horacio Rosatti, Carlos Rosenkrantz, and Ricardo Lorenzetti within the framework of the weekly agreement of the Court, and represents a definitive validation of what was solved by the Criminal Court No. 3 of Jujuy on February 10, 2023. With this resolution, Sala, 61 years old and currently under house arrest for health reasons, must serve the consolidated sentence that different judicial instances had already confirmed.
The calculation of the sentence was mainly based on two convictions. The first, issued on January 14, 2019, corresponds to the case known as "Pibes Villeros." In it, it was proven that Sala led an illicit association dedicated to the systematic diversion of public funds intended for the construction of housing for vulnerable sectors in Jujuy. The structure she led centralized and redistributed state resources to cooperatives under her control, many of which never executed the committed housing projects. Part of that money, as was proven, was delivered in cash to Sala and members of her close circle.
For these acts, the Oral Criminal Court 3 of Jujuy sentenced her to 13 years in prison and disqualification from holding public office for the same period, for the crimes of illicit association as a leader, fraud against public administration, and extortion, all in real competition.
