Shared Dreams Trial: UIF seeks six years in prison for Schoklender brothers, De Vido, and López

Argentina's Financial Information Unit (UIF) has requested six-year prison sentences for the Schoklender brothers, Pablo and Sergio, along with former officials Julio De Vido, José López, and Abel Fatala. The UIF made its accusation during the oral trial concerning the alleged diversion of public funds intended for the "Sueños Compartidos" (Shared Dreams) social housing program.

The UIF's accusation aligns with that of prosecutor Diego Velasco, who had previously sought the maximum penalty for all defendants. The Schoklender brothers managed the Madres de Plaza de Mayo Foundation, which was responsible for executing the housing program now at the center of the embezzlement accusations.

“

The evidence produced demonstrated that the defendants Julio De Vido, José López and Abel Fatala intentionally diverted the funding of Sueños Compartidos.

Marianela Teich, representing the UIF, argued that the defendants established a "criminal architecture" that constituted a "systematic corruption maneuver in public contracting." She stated that the evidence demonstrated De Vido, López, and Fatala intentionally diverted the program's funding. For former provincial officials Daniel Alfredo Nasif, Silvia Karina Nasif, Claudio Freidin, and Carlos Castellano, the UIF requested four-year sentences as secondary participants.

“

The foundation was the instrument, the patrimonial damage was the result, and the executors, organizers, and beneficiaries of the diversion were Sergio and Pablo Schoklender.

The "Sueños Compartidos" program was managed through the Madres de Plaza de Mayo Foundation, which received funds via agreements with the Ministry of Planning, then led by De Vido, and with provinces or municipalities. Teich asserted that the foundation served as the instrument for the embezzlement, with the Schoklender brothers identified as the executors, organizers, and beneficiaries of the fund diversion.

The core accusation is that between 2008 and 2011, irregular agreements were made to build social housing without public bidding. This scheme involved the Secretariat of Public Works, the Madres Foundation, and various provincial or municipal governments. The state allocated approximately $1.3 billion for the program. According to the prosecution, over $748 million was transferred by the Secretariat of Public Works, then under López's control, from which an estimated $206 million was allegedly embezzled.

“

The institution, the operational structure led and dominated by Pablo and Sergio Schoklender, was what set up this mechanism.