AMB WAYNE MEETS WITH PROSECUTOR GENERAL RIGHI IN

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 000278

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958:N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL SCUL AR PTER

SUBJECT: AMB WAYNE MEETS WITH PROSECUTOR GENERAL RIGHI IN
ANTICIPATION OF ATTORNEY GENERAL GONZALEZ VISIT



1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Argentine Prosecutor General Righi told
Ambassador Wayne that he welcomes USG training on the adversarial
system of criminal justice for his prosecutors and supports
increased cooperation on the preparation of extradition requests.
END SUMMARY.


2. (SBU) In a friendly first meeting with Ambassador on February 5,
Prosecutor General Esteban Righi welcomed the visit to Buenos Aires
later the same week of his U.S. counterpart, Attorney General
Alberto Gonzales. Righi stated that while their jobs were similar,
AG Gonzales had additional law enforcement functions that he lacked.
Essentially, Righi overseas a team of independent prosecutors and
controls the budget for their prosecutions. Oversight of law
enforcement officers similar to U.S. equivalents of FBI or DEA
agents is entrusted to the Minister of the Interior in Argentina.



3. (SBU) Ambassador Wayne noted the cooperation between Argentina
and the United States with the AMIA bombing investigation led by
Special Prosecutor Alberto Nisman. Prosecutor General responded
that he lacks oversight of that investigation; his role is limited
to providing funds to support the investigation, which he has done.
Further, Righi said that he recused himself from the AMIA
prosecution because his former law firm represents the former head
of the Secretariat of Intelligence (SIDE),Dr. Hugo Anzorreguy, who
was indicted for alleged misconduct in the original AMIA
investigation. (Note: it was alleged that the original
investigating judge in the AMIA case, Judge Galeano, personally
requested Anzorreguy to have SIDE pay USD400,000 to a key AMIA
witness Telledin. Anzorreguy was alleged to have agreed and
authorized SIDE subordinates to make payment with SIDE funds.)


4. (SBU) Ambassador Wayne asked Righi where the USG might be able
to assist Argentina's judicial reform efforts. Righi proffered that
training on the adversarial system of criminal justice is needed as
Argentina transitions away from the inquisitorial system of justice.
LEGATT Godoy suggested that advice regarding the U.S. system of
plea bargains could also be beneficial. Righi agreed commenting
that narcotafficking and public corruption investigations are
particularly difficult in the absence of a plea bargain system.
Similarly, increased cooperation with extraditions is needed, stated
Righi, as Argentina develops greater separation between prosecutors
and judges. This effort, stated Righi, is now being led by the
Minister of Justice.


5. (SBU) Righi remarked that the transition to a U.S.-style criminal
justice system would reduce pretrial delay arising from lengthy
investigations. These pretrial delays have an adverse impact on
public opinion of the judiciary and the justice system generally in
Argentina. Such changes, however, must not be explained to the
public as a response to crime, but instead as institutional reforms
that would make justice in Argentina more efficient and transparent.


WAYNE