The Court of Appeals upheld the rulings that benefited the businessman and other defendants in the case
Nuevo
Agregar La Derecha Diario en
Compartir:
The Court of Appeals of Córdoba confirmed this Friday the release of the businessman from La Rioja, Alicio Dagatti, who is under investigation for smuggling and drug trafficking in Bouwer prison. The measure also applies to his son Ignacio Dagatti and the prison guard Ramón Alexis Farías, who had been detained since December 2023. The ruling was issued by judges Patricia Farías, Mario Capdevila, and María Susana Blanc Gerzicich.
The judicial decision ratified the benefits previously granted by lower courts, which had revoked the pretrial detentions. In addition, the court partially rejected the appeal filed by prosecutor Enrique Gavier, who had requested to maintain the detentions while the investigations continued. The decision was notified to the parties and executed immediately by court order.
Dagatti had been detained along with his son and other individuals on suspicion of leading a network that brought drugs and cell phones into the prison. The businessman, based in Río Cuarto, is also accused of supplying spoiled food products to the Penitentiary Service. On three previous occasions, his defense managed to overturn the pretrial detention measures before different control judges.
Esperable: el empresario cordobés apoyó a Massa durante la campaña del 2023
The Court's reasoning and the progress of the judicial case
With this new decision, Ignacio Dagatti was released on bail of US$500,000, while the prison officer Farías regained his freedom under certain conditions. The court argued that there are not sufficient procedural risks to justify the continuation of pretrial detention. All defendants must remain at the disposal of the prosecutor as the investigation progresses.
The case originated at the end of 2023, following an investigation that linked businesspeople, prison staff, and private individuals to smuggling operations. The case is part of a broader investigation into the illegal entry of drugs, cell phones, and other items into the Bouwer complex. Since then, the Complex Crimes Prosecutor's Office has continued to gather evidence and testimonies.
The Court's ruling doesn't imply the closure of the investigation, but rather guarantees the defendants' freedom during the judicial process. According to sources from the federal jurisdiction, investigative lines remain active regarding possible links between external suppliers and prison officials. Proceedings will continue under prosecutor Gavier, who must decide whether to file new charges or request that the case go to trial.
