Overview
- On Thursday, October 15, Judge Lino Mirabelli formally processed Facundo Leal and several ex‑ARSAT officials plus ALS executives and the company, imposing embargos of up to ARS$3,000 million for some individuals and travel and asset restrictions.
- The court record cites 16 ARSAT purchase orders from November 2020 to December 2024 with reported payments of about US$1.695 million and ARS$32.2 million, and finds many contracts were awarded by direct hire without board approval.
- Mirabelli relied on WhatsApp chats, emails, geolocation data and witness statements that the judge interpreted as evidence of simulated competition, insertion of services not performed, inflated prices and cash ‘returns’ to officials.
- Separate searches turned up large sums of cash and narcotics in properties linked to Leal, and Leal remains under house arrest in a drug case led by Judge Daniel Rafecas while the corruption probe continues.
- The company ALS was processed as a legal entity and defendants are expected to appeal; the case raises questions about oversight of ARSAT contracting, possible loss of public funds and risks to continuity of telecom projects.