Court demands urgent transfer of Pilar luxury property case to Buenos Aires economic crimes court

Argentina's Economic Appeals Court has again ordered a federal judge to urgently transfer a case concerning a lavish property in Pilar to Buenos Aires' specialized economic crimes court. The property, reportedly owned by alleged fronts for AFA treasurer Pablo Toviggino, was discovered to house 54 luxury cars, equestrian facilities, and a helipad. Federal Judge Adrián González Charbay of Campana was initially ordered on June 12 to hand over the case to Buenos Aires' economic crimes court No. 10, presided over by Verónica Straccia. This court specializes in money laundering and tax evasion. However, the case remains in Campana despite the 13-day-old order. The Chamber of Economic Criminal Court judges, Roberto Hornos and Carolina Robiglio, rejected a further appeal by the accused, Luciano Nicolás Pantano and his mother Ana Conte. They sought to move the case to the Cassation Chamber against the decision to transfer jurisdiction. The Chamber denied this, effectively closing the path to Cassation for Pantano and Conte, who are listed as owners of the five-hectare property through the firm Real Central. The court also mandated that the Straccia court urgently reclaim the case file from Judge González Charbay, citing the delay in its transfer. Pantano and Conte are suspected of acting as fronts for Toviggino, as their financial profiles do not align with the acquisition of the property. Real Central S.R.L., originally Central Parks Drinks S.R.L., underwent a name change and a significant capital increase shortly before purchasing the Pilar estate. Investigators found an AFA corporate card in Pantano's name used for expenses, further linking the case to the football association's treasurer.