The Federal Chamber prosecuted Oscar Benítez and Arturo Pagliari for using forged documents in a faculty selection process. The ruling overturned a previous dismissal issued by Federal Judge No. 1 of Córdoba. The use of fourteen forged certificates at the Faculty of Law of UNC is under investigation.
The certificates were allegedly signed by Pagliari to benefit Benítez in his academic career. The case was brought forward by attorney Eduardo Pintore, who acted as a private prosecutor. The scheme dates back to 2017 and was exposed after years of deliberate omissions.
Each forged certificate was considered a separate offense
The judiciary analyzed each document individually and considered them autonomous acts with their own criminal significance. These were certificates that attributed false teaching positions, presentations, and academic activities. This aggravates the legal situation of the accused, opening the possibility of pretrial detention.
The case was dismissed at first instance, but the Federal Chamber accepted prosecutor Senestrari's appeal. Pintore's appeal was also considered, as he had reported irregularities since 2020. The ruling contradicted Judge Sánchez Freytes's position and opened new lines of investigation.
The complaint targeted the internal power that dominates the Faculty of Law
Benítez and Pagliari were part of the yanzismo, a political group that has governed the Faculty for 28 years. Pintore stated that both were officials of the group led by Pedro Yanzi Ferreira. Yanzismo is also part of the coalition currently leading the National University of Córdoba.
Pagliari served as a faculty councilor and Benítez as coordinator of the Public Law Department. Both were promoted to higher positions despite being under criminal suspicion. The power structure allegedly operated to prevent sanctions and ensure their internal promotions.
The Board of Directors and the Superior Council ignored the evidence presented
Pintore reported the irregularities in the selection process to both bodies, but his complaint was dismissed. Despite having documentary evidence, the university did not act in the face of the possible crime. He was even denied the possibility of initiating academic proceedings against the accused.
The request has been stalled since 2021 due to delaying tactics in the UNC's Directorate of Inquiries. The file was transferred without resolution for more than four years and remains unsolved. Pintore warned that the appointed academic prosecutor had already ruled that the act did not exist.
