The jury trial began in the 4th Chamber of Crime of Córdoba and places three former municipal officials at the center. These are Mario Ignacio Rey, Héctor Alejandro Rezk, and Guillermo Alejandro Medina, accused of extorting a security company. The events date back to the beginning of Ramón Javier Mestre's first administration and have reached trial after more than ten years of waiting.
The three former officials face charges of co-authorship of repeated extortion to the detriment of the company Visión Nocturna. Rey is also charged with a failed attempt at extortion for an incident that occurred in 2012. The Penal Code establishes that this crime carries minimum sentences of five years of actual imprisonment.
The jury must analyze a series of pieces of evidence, including recordings obtained through hidden cameras presented by the complainants. Those recordings, made during public and private meetings, include images and voices of the accused. The plaintiff is represented by attorney Karina Zeverín, who defends businesswoman María Constancia Almada.
Recordings and complaints as decisive evidence
The plaintiff keeps that the accused demanded money to ensure overdue payments and maintain current contracts. Under those conditions, the hidden cameras recorded meetings in official offices and downtown bars. According to the accusation, a bribery scheme and the demand to hire party activists were exposed there.
