Félix César Escobar Rivarola, from the Business Licensing area, was arrested as part of the Bomberos case, which already has more than 40 lines of investigation within the municipality
An inspector from the Business Licensing area of the Municipality of Córdoba, led by Daniel Passerini, was arrested this Wednesday for alleged extortion schemes against merchants in the Capital. The individual is Félix César Escobar Rivarola, 49 years old, whose arrest was ordered by prosecutor Guillermo González.
The complaint was filed by Ezequiel Hormaeche, executive director of the Municipal Oversight and Control Agency. Among municipal employees, a message circulated labeling Escobar Rivarola as someone who already had internal complaints for various incidents, to the point that posters were put up against him inside the 6 de Julio Palace.
According to the investigation, Escobar Rivarola allegedly demanded successive sums of money from two merchants to allow their licensing processes to advance, under the threat of imposing arbitrary closures or blocking their files if they did not agree to the payment.
A municipal employee of the Oversight and Control Agency was arrested this Wednesday for alleged extortion schemes against merchants in the Capital.
Eight firearms seized and a couple charged
The case also involves Flavia Paola Freites, 48 years old and the inspector's partner, who allegedly assisted in the investigated schemes. Both will be summoned in the coming days to provide statements.
During the search of the couple's home, investigators seized electronic devices, documentation, and eight firearms, including shotguns. The Prosecutor's Office does not rule out that the investigation may lead to new charges.
Municipal Palace July 6
A new chapter on contracts in the Municipality of Córdoba
The case is part of a much broader set of investigations stemming from the so-called "Firefighters case," with more than 40 lines opened regarding alleged irregularities in commercial licenses, extortions by inspectors, and driver's licenses. This web has already resulted in dozens of charges, a hundred searches, and some convictions within the municipal administration.
The Municipality of Córdoba stated that they are available to the prosecutors and that in several of these cases they act as complainants. "Impunity and anything goes must be part of the past," expressed Passerini's administration, while the list of municipal employees under suspicion continues to grow.
