By Guillermo Tiscornia
The former Federal Prosecutor – Luis G. Moreno Ocampo – was long ago the mentor of "Poder Ciudadano," an entity that claimed a sort of monopoly control over corruption, transparency, and impunity in the Argentine Republic.
In the present, he is the second-in-command in the professional structure founded simultaneously by the same Dr. Moreno Ocampo – lawyer Hugo M. Wortman Yofre – who serves as the President of "Poder Ciudadano".
The organization's preaching is monolithic: a frontal fight against corruption and impunity. And the single banner they wave is transparency.
Now, in the meantime, Dr. Wortman Yofre took on the professional defense of the giant Spanish corporate group dedicated to the exploitation of gambling games –bingos and slot machines– back in 2003. This was based on a complaint filed by the AFIP DGA due to an export smuggling of slot machines and probable tax evasion.
This was the GRUPO RECREATIVO FRANCO or, if you prefer, CODERE S.A.; which landed in Argentina with its business in the hands of then-governor Eduardo Duhalde; and these businesses continued under Felipe Solá, Daniel Scioli, etc.
In the Buenos Aires Legislature, CODERE S.A. obtained regulatory frameworks that allowed it access to differential tax regimes; and not without mentioning the condonation of tax debts.
In contrast, in the United States –Maricopa, Arizona– its main Spanish shareholder (Joaquín Franco Núñez) went to prison accused of conspiracy, fraud, and attempted bribery in exchange for installing a Casino in that northern country.
In Argentina, CODERE S.A., under the advice of the pillars of "Poder Ciudadano," orchestrated – as a calculated procedural strategy– a false complaint of non-existent "corruption" against the judge who in 2003 was investigating that same Spanish corporate group.
At the close of 2015, the Argentine Federal Court, with the signature of Minister Dr. Carlos Fayt on his last day of work, left firm an order of dismissal that had been upheld in all lower instances, which unmasked such a ruse.
The same former President –Dr. Cristina Fernández de Kirchner– from Mallorca –Spain– on July 24, 2007, with the loud voice of the official chain, positioned herself as a spokesperson for CODERE S.A. and disciplined all the multisectoral representation of the Council of the Magistrature in pursuit of my removal from the judicial position.
Simultaneously, then Minister of Defense –Dr. Nilda Garré–, driven by a complaint from the National Customs and the activity of the Economic Crimes Prosecutor –Dr. Carolina Robiglio–, was summoned to give a statement due to a fraudulent export –under systematic underinvoicing– of FAL rifles to Farmington –Connecticut– USA.
In the USA, the main Spanish shareholder of CODERE S.A. went to prison, while in Argentina they mounted their businesses under the complicity of each and every one of the government administrations.
Such is the difference; and such is the double standard of Drs. Luis G. Moreno Ocampo and Hugo M. Wortman Yofre.
