Uruguayan Justice Suspends Auction of Balcedo and Fiege's Mansion in Playa Verde

The Uruguayan judiciary has intervened to halt the public auction of "El Gran Chaparral," the sprawling property in Playa Verde belonging to Argentine businessman Marcelo Balcedo and his wife Paola Fiege. This decision by Judge Ecatherina Cardozo comes as a temporary reprieve amidst a complex web of legal proceedings that ensnare the couple.

Argentina has sought Balcedo's extradition, accusing him of leading a criminal organization, with the union he headed allegedly serving as a base for these illicit activities. Meanwhile, thirteen former employees have initiated a labor lawsuit, leading to the demand for the property's auction to satisfy their claims. Fiege, in a recent statement, vehemently denied these allegations, claiming her employees were coached by prosecutors to lie against them.

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When we were in jail, the Prosecutor's Office prepared them to sue us, and they all lied.

Adding another layer to this legal saga, a previous ruling that would have compelled the Uruguayan state to pay over US$644,000 to the company that leased the aircraft to Balcedo has been overturned. This case stemmed from the deterioration of the plane while it was seized as part of the investigation into Balcedo in Uruguay. The initial ruling had held the state responsible for the aircraft's upkeep, a decision now reversed by the Appeals Court.

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I always treated my employees like kings, and when they arrested us, they lied to the judge because the prosecutors in the penal system prepared them, telling them to sue us.