The judicial process regarding the death of Valentín Aranda, the young man who lost his life after an electric shock in a plaza in Alto Alberdi, continues in Córdoba. The incident, which occurred in January 2022, shocked local residents and placed public space maintenance under scrutiny. Nearly three years later, the case is progressing with requests for convictions against municipal employees from the Public Lighting department.
The defendants are Julio Sebastián Banegas, Hugo Roberto Chocobares, Ramón Edgardo Cuello, and Marcos Ariel Farioli. All of them worked in the Maintenance Department of the Public Lighting Directorate of the Municipality of Córdoba.
During the most recent hearing, Chamber Prosecutor Martín Berger submitted his sentencing request to the Criminal Chamber Court. He requested a three-year suspended prison sentence and a five-year disqualification from holding public office for four municipal workers. The accused are being charged with alleged omissions in the oversight of the electrical system at the site where the tragedy occurred.
The Public Prosecutor's Office considered that the evidence demonstrated deficiencies in the supervision and maintenance of the facilities. According to the investigation, the lighting system had irregularities that were not addressed despite prior warnings. The prosecutor classified the incident as a case of involuntary manslaughter due to functional negligence in the fulfillment of duties.
