Buenos Aires, Feb 27 (NA) – Federal Judge María Eugenia Capuchetti has summoned former head of the National Institute of Technological Education (INET) and current Buenos Aires Cabinet Chief Gabriel Sánchez Zinny to give a statement on March 3rd. This is in connection with a case for alleged fraud against the public administration and incompatible deals related to the granting of tax credits to Toyota Argentina. The measure was taken as part of case CFP 1837/2024, titled 'Sánchez Zinny, Gabriel and Others / Incompatible deals, fraud by fraudulent administration and fraud against the Public Administration', following a request from Federal Prosecutor's Office No. 12, led by María Alejandra Mangano. According to Argentine News Agency, Diego Pablo Taurizano, Diego Hernán Gabella, and Martín Galante were also summoned to testify. The alleged incidents occurred between March 29, 2016, and April 11, 2017, while they were working at the National Institute of Technological Education (INET) and the Ministry of Education and Sports. The indictment alleges that, using their official positions, they carried out contracts through the tax credit regime that could not be made directly because they did not comply with the public procurement regime and due to family and personal ties with members of the beneficiary companies. The maneuver consisted of issuing tax credit certificates in favor of Toyota Argentina SA as a sponsoring company for educational projects under Law 22.317. The investigation pointed out that the contracted services presented irregularities, low quality, inconsistencies in dates, and lack of documentary support. The amount of the proven damage amounted to $2,854,405, which updated according to the Banco Nación's active rate reached $16,515,389.42. However, the prosecutor's office understood that the funds were used to hire private consulting and advertising services that did not align with the educational purposes established by the norm. In the three accredited cases, the money that failed to enter the State treasury was destined for the firms Grupo Arde SRL, Grupo SI SRL, and Blink SRL.
