Buenos Aires, Dec 7 (NA) -- The Civic Coalition exposed the grounds for the money laundering complaint involving associates of AFA's leadership, sharply criticizing the inaction of the judicial system and warning of a serious conflict of interest, as judges who are members of the AFA's Disciplinary Tribunal could investigate the association's leadership.
Matías Yofe, a leader of the political space led by Elisa Carrió, explained in an interview on Radio Rivadavia, accessed by the Argentine News Agency, that "the judicial system is completely thirsty for these people" and questioned why the massive acquisition of assets by the alleged frontmen did not trigger any "red alerts" from state control bodies.
The investigation focuses on the figures of alleged frontmen who own a "sumptuous mansion" with an unregistered helipad in Pilar and "more than 120 collector cars," with incompatible assets.
Yofe emphasized his concern over the lack of controls: "We are talking about cars being bought and millions and millions of dollars being spent on cars." He added, "If any of us tomorrow wants to buy a car and doesn't have the money to go and buy it, the state will call you and ask you where the money came from."
Regarding the conflict of interest, Yofe warned about the AFA's Disciplinary Tribunal, composed of judges and prosecutors. "Let's see if the names match in the cases that are circulating, among others the ones we initiated together with Dr. Facundo Gison, who is speaking to you," he said.
The alleged frontman scheme involves Luciano Pantano, a monotributista (simplified tax regime payer), and his retired mother, who are listed as the owners of the company Real Central. The firm, according to Yofe, owns this mansion in Pilar, where the "120 Ferraris, Porsches, BMWs, collector cars" suspected to be under their control were found, as well as "another house we found in the Aires Plaza neighborhood of Pilar."
Yofe stated that, despite the seriousness of the evidence, the case presented to the Court of Cassation fell under the judge Rafecas, who "declares himself incompetent without having taken any preliminary measure," just as in the Economic Criminal Court. "That's delirium," he said.
"What you are saying is incredible," Yofe replied in response.
The leader stressed that the funds being laundered would come from money that should be going to the clubs. "Sadly, if this is confirmed, it's money that wouldn't be reaching the clubs," he lamented, while "we see all clubs completely defunded, we see broken clubs, we see clubs whose infrastructure is totally rundown."
At the end of the piece, he was asked: "You say that an investigation into Claudio 'Chiqui' Tapia could end up in the hands of a member of the AFA's Disciplinary Tribunal." Yofe replied: "Yes, of course."
