prosecutor Paid Argentina’s socialist former president Alberto Fernández was on Thursday accused of embezzling funds as part of an investigation into fraud in insurance contracts allegedly committed during his administration, which ended in December.
Mr. Fernandez is accused of misappropriating funds during his administration by giving preferential treatment to certain brokers to manage insurance policies for public dependents.
In addition to Mr. Fernandez, Nacion Seguros Insurance company Alberto Pagliano and broker Hector Martínez Sosa (husband of a former presidential private secretary) are also accused.
argentina newspapers La Nación report Before Fernández became president, Argentina’s National Social Security Administration was under a self-insurance program, but in 2021 he ordered all state insurance to be provided through Argentina’s National Social Security Administration. Nacion Segurosa company that has contracted an intermediary and a private company.
The ongoing transplant study was initiated in response to extensive research. report Published in an Argentine newspaper Clarin The report revealed that Nacion Seguros We subcontracted the work to an intermediary insurance company at the ANSES social security office in Argentina and earned a 17% profit in commissions. This amount is “three times the market price.”
total fee income; according to to Clarinestimated at 300 million Argentine pesos (approximately $356,000) per month and 20 billion pesos (approximately $23.7 million) annually.
Following the publication of the report, Argentine lawyer Silvina Martínez on Wednesday filed a formal complaint regarding “alleged irregularities in the employment of brokers and private companies that mediate insurance administration for public institutions” during the Fernández administration. This led to charges being filed.
When Fernandez was indicted, he said he “didn’t steal anything,” said he “didn’t take part in the negotiations,” and agreed to the investigation into the incident.
“I adore honesty. I am a public servant. And I speak because I want to explain to people what happened. I have not stolen anything and I have not participated in any business transaction. Fernandez Said Thursday during an interview on local radio. “And this is not a business deal. They are influencing a lot of good people.”
“I think it makes sense that it would be investigated. There are accusations,” he continued. “The concept of attribution in journalistic terms sounds like an accusation. But in technical terms, it means to investigate.”
Mr. Fernandes insisted that if the case were investigated, the authorities would realize “how much of a lie this was.”
“I don’t want anyone to believe that I’m hiding from something. I haven’t received a penny and I haven’t had any business with anyone,” he said. “I did not take away a single eraser from the province. I took only the great honor of being president of the Argentine people.”
Argentina’s anti-corruption agency, which was recently established to coincide with President Javier Millay’s inauguration, announced on Thursday that it would proceed with a case against Mr. Fernández over the insurance graft case.
Argentina’s new president Javier Millei (left) gestures as he accepts the sash and baton from outgoing president Alberto Fernández during his inauguration ceremony at Congress in Buenos Aires on December 10, 2023. (Alejandro Pani/AFP)
“We do not intend to engage in ideological persecution. We will investigate acts of corruption, even if names come up along the way,” said Anti-Corruption Bureau Director Alejandro Melic. Said La Nación on Thursday.
This was revealed by an official from the Anti-Corruption Bureau. Clarin The bureau said it had submitted a formal request to be a plaintiff to the judge overseeing the case against Mr. Fernandez, and that once the request was resolved, the department would “prepare We request that evidence be taken.”
Christian K. Caruso is a Venezuelan writer who chronicles life under socialism. You can follow him on Twitter here.
