Leila Gianni Leads Investigations into Alleged Corruption in Argentine Ministry

Leila Gianni, a 39-year-old Argentine lawyer and Subsecretary of Legales at the Ministry of Capital Humano, is spearheading investigations and criminal complaints against irregularities in both current and previous administrations. Her efforts have brought to light significant issues within the Ministry of Human Capital, particularly concerning the personnel hiring mechanisms and misuse of funds.

The Ministry, led by Sandra Pettovello, is currently under scrutiny for its agreements with the Organization of Ibero-American States (OEI). These agreements, traditionally aimed at education, culture, and science projects, were allegedly misused to pay individuals without official designations, effectively creating 'political cash.'

A list of 18 individuals who billed between 600,000 and 1,400,000 pesos was uncovered, despite these individuals not having any functions within the ministry. This list, published on the Data Clave portal, included professionals from various fields, such as logistics, advertising, and banking, all of whom had no official roles in the Secretariat of Children, Adolescents, and Family.

The scandal intensified when it was revealed that the Children's Secretariat, previously headed by Pablo de La Torre, had transferred 6,772,500,000 pesos for various purposes under these agreements. Minister Pettovello's signature was the only one on the agreement, raising questions about oversight and accountability.

Why this matters: The allegations of corruption and misuse of funds in the Ministry of Human Capital have significant implications for the Argentine government's accountability and transparency. If left unchecked, such irregularities can lead to further erosion of trust in public institutions and negatively impact the country's development.

Leila Gianni filed a criminal complaint in court, stating that bonuses were paid and there was irregular management of the money received by individuals who invoiced the OEI. The contracts for work projects with the OEI were not the only ones under scrutiny; the bidding and purchase of lentils and sunflower oil were also questioned, with a 5% commission paid to the OEI.

Adding to the controversy, the Ministry's food warehouses in Villa Martelli, Buenos Aires province, and Tafí Viejo, Tucumán, were raided on account of inconsistencies in stock information. Federal Judge Sebastián Casanello ordered the raids to verify stock data, expiration dates, and the state of stored food, citing the need for transparency and public accountability.

The raids were part of an investigation into abuse of authority and violation of a public official's duties, initiated after a complaint by social leader Juan Grabois. Grabois reported over 5 million kilograms of food stored in the Ministry's warehouses, which, if not delivered soon, would expire. The Ministry's data revealed significant discrepancies, including no oil, wheat flour, or lentils, and only 40 kg of expired rice and vegetables.

Federal Police registered products, including their brand, amount, expiration date, and current state, to verify the ministry's information. Only seven deliveries of 37,500 kilograms of unspecified food were made from April 30 onwards, with internal movements of oil and tomato puree, but their destinations remain unclear.

On Monday, Judge Casanello ordered the Ministry to distribute the stored food, but the Ministry won an appeal against it and still needs to provide a distribution plan. The Ministry acknowledged the existence of thousands of kilograms of food in government warehouses and announced that the Army would distribute them, but details on how, when, and to whom were not provided.

Pablo de la Torre, head of the Ministry's Childhood, Adolescence, and Family Secretary, was fired for not adequately monitoring the expiring food. Minister Pettovello filed a legal complaint against de la Torre for an alleged embezzlement scheme involving ministry contracts. President Javier Milei expressed his absolute support for Pettovello despite the controversy.

Leila Gianni's investigations have brought significant attention to the Ministry of Human Capital's operations, revealing deep-rooted issues in the management of funds and resources. Investigations continuing, the focus remains on ensuring transparency and accountability within the ministry.

Key Takeaways

• Leila Gianni, Argentine lawyer, investigates Ministry of Human Capital for irregularities.
• Ministry misused funds, paid individuals without official designations, and hid food stock.
• 18 individuals billed 600,000-1,400,000 pesos without official roles.
• 6,772,500,000 pesos transferred for unknown purposes, raising oversight concerns.
• Raids on food warehouses revealed inconsistencies, expired food, and abuse of authority.