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Judge to Charge Tourist After Dique Potrerillos Graffiti Removed

Pro Montaña completed graffiti removal at Dique Potrerillos, setting the stage for a judge to charge a Buenos Aires tourist under Article 138 after identification by facial recognition.

Overview

  • Fundación Pro Montaña used high-pressure water jets to erase the green inscriptions “Stela, Grachu, Gui, Mari y Moni” from protected rocks at Dique Potrerillos.
  • Judge Viviana Fernández referred the case to the Tribunales de Luján de Cuyo and will formally impute one suspect surnamed Pérez for an environmental contravention.
  • Facial recognition technology combined with a viral video taken by an eyewitness motorist enabled Mendoza authorities to identify a Buenos Aires tourist linked to the vandalism.
  • Article 138 of Mendoza’s Contravencional Code imposes fines up to ARS 21 million and up to 10 days’ detention for unauthorized damage in protected areas.
  • Vice-Governor Hebe Casado coordinated with environmental agencies and NGOs to oversee the cleanup and roll out public education campaigns on safeguarding natural heritage.