Overview
- Spagnuolo appeared before Judge Sebastián Casanello and Prosecutor Franco Picardi, gave a brief statement, and refused to answer questions as his defense claimed the leaked audios were manipulated with artificial intelligence.
- Picardi summoned Spagnuolo and 14 others over alleged steering of price competitions to preselected drug distributors with 10%–20% overpricing, with losses estimated above ARS 48,000 million tied to disability benefits.
- Despite a prosecution request, the judge did not order Spagnuolo’s detention; laboratory businessman Pablo Atchabahian remains under arrest and travel bans were imposed on other suspects.
- Searches uncovered U$S 82,000 and €2,950 in a safe deposit box and signs of costly home renovations; Spagnuolo said the cash predated his tenure and the work was limited.
- Investigators are probing the roles of figures such as Miguel Ángel Calvete and reviewing additional records as upcoming hearings and forensic challenges to the recordings proceed.