The defendants include former Macri administration officials, agribusiness entrepreneurs, and even the current head of SIGEN
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Federal Judge Julián Ercolini summoned 26 former directors of Banco Nación and the agro-export company Vicentin for questioning. The case, led by prosecutor Gerardo Pollicita after five years of investigation, targets an alleged fraud of US$260 million through the granting of irregular loans to the agribusiness company.
Among the most prominent names are former Banco Nación president during Mauricio Macri's administration, Javier González Fraga, and his then vice president, the radical economist Lucas Llach. Both are believed to have been part of the operation that, between August and December 2019, allowed Vicentin to access loans even when it already had accumulated millions in debt, had lost its credit rating, and was on the verge of default.
Javier González Fraga
Meanwhile, on the company's side, the judiciary summoned Vicentin's main leaders: former president Daniel Buyatti, former vice president Alberto Macua, former attorney-in-fact Herman Vicentin, along with Roberto Vicentin, Martín Colombo, and Máximo Padoan, all members of the leadership that led the company to default in 2019.
According to the prosecution, the operation included the release of guarantees, the granting of new loans for more than US$105 million, simulated collection plans that facilitated non-payment, and the diversion of funds abroad. At least US$16 million are believed to have been sent to accounts in tax havens, while another portion of the money was disguised through false invoicing for nearly US$223 million.
Lucas Llanch
Prosecutor Pollicita was categorical: Banco Nación officials "deliberately deviated from proper conduct to benefit the businessmen, to the clear detriment of the State".
The court described the events as of "great complexity," not only because of the amount of money involved, but also due to the political and economic weight of those involved. It is significant that Vicentin was Banco Nación's largest private client, with a line of credit that represented a systemic risk for the public entity.
The questioning will take place between October 27 and December 18, with the expectation that responsibilities will finally be determined in one of the most high-profile fraud cases in recent times, where political and business interests are intertwined with the always controversial actions of the Judiciary.
