Ex-Official Alleges 'Collusion' in Kirchner Era Public Works Contracts During Bribery Trial

Javier Iguacel, who led National Roads during the Macri administration, testified as a witness in the ongoing "Cuadernos de las Coimas" (Notebooks of Bribes) oral trial. He presented allegations of a "collusion" within the Kirchnerist governments, suggesting a systematic mechanism of bribery linked to the distribution of public works contracts.

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There are accounts in the 'house,' which I cannot confirm, that said the advance payment [for the work] was made, and 100% of the advance payment was loaded into trunks, taken away, and distributed as bribes.

Iguacel stated that upon taking office, he encountered information indicating that advance payments for public works were allegedly loaded into trunks and distributed as kickbacks. "There are accounts in the 'house,' which I cannot confirm, that said the advance payment [for the work] was made, and 100% of the advance payment was loaded into trunks, taken away, and distributed as bribes," he testified. He asserted that this practice was evident because, after eliminating a problematic bidding system, the number of bidders for contracts increased significantly, and prices dropped by nearly 40%. "The only explanation for that to happen from one month to the next... was because there was collusion beforehand, otherwise it is inexplicable," Iguacel explained.

He further recounted an interview with Sergio Hernán Passacantando, then manager of Public Works, who allegedly confessed to working for financier Ernesto Clarens and managing funds for Lázaro Báez. Passacantando reportedly told Iguacel that Néstor Kirchner had asked then-National Roads head Nelson Periotti to hire him to manage the money. Iguacel identified Sandro Férgola as the individual responsible for organizing or coordinating the distribution of works outside of official bidding processes, a mechanism informally known as "La Camarita."

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The only explanation for that to happen from one month to the next... was because there was collusion beforehand, otherwise it is inexplicable.

"These were meetings where constructors met with officials to decide who would be awarded a contract; that's what I understood from what they told me," Iguacel said. He described "La Camarita" as a process where Férgola would gather people, have them pass through a table at the Intercontinental Hotel, and they would decide among themselves who would get which contract and how they should present bids in a sham bidding process. Iguacel also claimed that José López would send a note on Sundays via his driver, specifying whom to pay first.

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These were meetings where constructors met with officials to decide who would be awarded a contract; that's what I understood from what they told me.