Rosario, Jan 10 (NA) – The Federal Chamber of Rosario once again rejected a request for authorization to leave the country from Federal Judge Gastón Salmain, who is being prosecuted for corruption and has a preventive prison order, although not executed due to his immunities. Salmain had requested permission to travel to Europe between December 2025 and January 2026 to reunite with his children, who were already abroad. He also emphasized that the minors' departure was voluntary and occurred on the same day the original denial was notified. Judge Ricardo Moisés Vásquez stated that it was not proven that the trip could not be rescheduled and could take place on another date. The Federal Chamber of Rosario considered that there were no urgent reasons to allow the trip and that its nature was 'strictly vacation.' In its ruling, it stated: 'The prohibition on leaving the country as a safeguard measure for the process is reasonable and proportional.' Subsequently, the judge himself filed a criminal complaint against the financier. Federal Judge Carlos Vera Barros ordered preventive detention and a travel ban for the attributed crimes, their institutional severity, and procedural risk, although the detention will not be executed under the immunities in force according to Law 25.320. In parallel, the Accusations Commission of the Council of the Magistrature is analyzing his situation, which could lead to an impeachment proceeding. They are accused of favoring a trust with the withdrawal of 10 million dollars during the exchange restrictions at the end of Alberto Fernández's government. According to the fiscal accusation, Salmain agreed with Whpei and Busaniche on a judicial benefit in exchange for a bribe of 200,000 dollars, although the payment was not made because the ruling was less favorable due to decisions related to the change of government. Judges Elida Isabel Vidal and Silvina María Andalaf Casiello adhered to his vote and confirmed the travel ban. The court emphasized that the denial does not violate Salmain's arrest immunity, as that guarantee only prevents his detention and not other precautionary measures. It warned that extending that protection beyond its original purpose would violate the principle of equality before the law. Salmain was prosecuted at the end of December along with financier Fernando Elías Whpei and notary Santiago Busaniche. His defense argued that the previous refusal caused a 'permanent institutional damage' and that the measure acted as a 'preemptive sanction.' The Court of Cassation had enabled the judicial recess for the Rosario court to issue a new resolution. As learned by the Noticias Argentinas Agency, the Chamber Prosecutor Javier Arzubi Calv opposed the proposal and stated that the judge tried to hinder the investigation.
