He businessman Lázaro Báez and the former head of the National Highway Directorate Nelson Periotti This Monday, March 25, they asked for his acquittal in the case of acts of corruption in public works in Santa Cruz between 2003 and 2015.
The defenses of both agreed to criticize the conclusions reached by the federal oral court that sentenced them to six years in prison.
Báez’s lawyer, Juan Martín Villanueva, criticized the limitations on the exercise of the right of defense by the oral court and, based on the evidence discussed during the debate, he stated that no irregularity was demonstrated in the 51 contracts analyzed.
“We ask for the acquittal of our client not only because of the very serious deficiencies in the process but because there was no crime and that was demonstrated throughout the debate,” said Villanueva.
For the first time the widow of José Ignacio Rucci spoke: “There were soldiers and Montonero terrorists here. They were all murderers”
Furthermore, in “subsidy”, He demanded that the Chamber of Cassation – which reviews the sentences – annul the trial and order that “a new debate” be held. that is based on a new expertise on all public works throughout the country during the three Kirchner governments.
Periotti’s defense, led by lawyer Federico Paruolo, also questioned what happened during the oral trial and agreed with Villanueva that there were no markups or rigged contracts to favor Báez.
This Monday was the penultimate appeal hearing before the Court of Cassation, prior to knowing whether the sentence against businessmen and former officials, mainly former president Cristina Kirchner, will be confirmed, modified or revoked.
The next hearing will be on April 4 and after that The Court of Cassation, made up of judges Gustavo Hornos, Diego Barroetaveña and Mariano Borisnky, will be able to resolve the case.