Rosario Federal Judge Suspended Amidst Bribery and Impeachment Proceedings

The Council of the Magistracy has unanimously voted to initiate impeachment proceedings against federal judge Gastón Salmain of Rosario, Argentina. The decision leads to Salmain's immediate suspension from his post as he faces serious corruption charges.

Salmain is currently processed and in pre-trial detention for allegedly signing judicial rulings in exchange for bribes. He is accused of manipulating a court case to facilitate the illicit transfer of $10 million to offshore accounts between September 2023 and April 2024, while currency controls were in place. In return, he allegedly received a $200,000 bribe. His pre-trial detention order was upheld by the Federal Chamber of Rosario and the Criminal Cassation Chamber, though his arrest had not been executed due to judicial immunity.

Further complicating his situation, Salmain is also accused of lying on his judicial application. He allegedly omitted information about his prior dismissal from the judiciary in 2002, where he worked as an employee in the social security court. At that time, he was reportedly dismissed for offering a bribe to manipulate a lottery draw. Salmain defended himself by stating he did not disclose this past incident because he was not asked about it and considered it an old matter.

The impeachment process will now move to a trial jury, composed of council members acting as prosecutors. They are expected to rule on whether Salmain is guilty of misconduct before the end of the year. This move is seen as a significant step in reforming the federal judiciary, a process the current government aims to advance.

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This man cannot be a federal judge.