ARGENTINA: NEW VALIJAGATE EVIDENCE IS FRONT-PAGE

C O N F I D E N T I A L BUENOS AIRES 000743 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/29/2018 TAGS: PGOV KJUS PREL SNAR KCOR VZ AR SUBJECT: ARGENTINA: NEW VALIJAGATE EVIDENCE IS FRONT-PAGE NEWS BUT OFFERS NOTHING CONCLUSIVE REF: BUENOS AIRES 646 AND PREVIOUS Classified By: Ambassador E.A. Wayne for Reasons 1.4 (b,d) ¶1. (C) Summary: "Valijagate" is once again news in Argentina. The Argentine press is reporting new evidence in the investigation, including cell phone records of supposedly traced calls from a key suspect to the presidential residence, contradictory testimony implying more significant links between the various actors than previously testified to, and the scheduled testimony May 28 of key Venezuelan suspects Diego Uzcategui-Matheus and his son -- which ultimately did not occur. This story may yet break open again if local press continue to reveal "embarrassing" facts. End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) The "Valijagate" scandal has once again become front-page fodder for leading daily newspapers thanks to new evidence in Argentina's investigation into the infamous Venezuelan suitcase with US$800,000 seized by GOA officials in August 2007. Cell phone records of key suspect and former GOA official Claudio Uberti (a Kirchner functionary) show multiply calls to the presidential residence on the day the money was found. Also, testimony from former PDVSA Vice-President Diego Uzcategui-Matheus, who was scheduled to appear with his son in an Argentine court May 28 but did not show, contradicts statements previously made by Uberti, casting a further shadow on his testimony. In separate news, prosecutors appealed the judge,s decision to change the charges levied against the Uzcateguis to money laundering, which carries lesser penalties. However, it remainsto be seen whether or not the Uzcateguis will ever even show in court in Argentina, May 28 was the fourth time they failed to appear for a scheduled court date. The prosecution is asking that arrest warrants be issued for them as a result of their non-appearance. ¶3. (U) According to press reports, cell phone records indicate that on the morning the suitcase was intercepted at Jorge Newbery Aeroparque airport (August 4, 2007),Claudio Uberti, the former toll-road regulator subsequently fired by Nestor Kirchner because of this scandal, made a series of calls to the president's residence in Olivos, as well as to the GOA's internal revenue service (AFIP) that controls Argentine Customs, the Interior Ministry that at the time controlled the airport police, the Argentine Chamber of Commerce, Ministry of Planning, and others. Using cellular tower records of telephone calls placed by Uberti the morning of August 4, "La Nacion" was able to map out the circuitous route that took him from the vicinity of Jorge Newbery airport, through Belgrano, to Olivos (near the president's residence),and then back to the Jorge Newbery area near his own apartment. Cell records also indicate that on August 7, once the scandal had begun to gain media attention, Uberti received three calls from the Director General of Operations for the Secretariat of State Intelligence (SIDE). ¶4. (C) The implication of the "La Nacion" story was that Uberti's phone calls to GOA agencies sought their intervention with Argentine Customs and Airport Police, both of which were involved in the interception of Antonini's suitcase. La Nacion sources say they continue to work this story and have important "off-the-record" comments from Antonini-Wilson that they are trying to corroborate with other sources so that they can go public. ¶5. (U) New statements by former PDVSA Vice-President Diego Uzcategui-Matheus directly contradict earlier ones by Uberti regarding the length of time the Kirchner functionary knew Antonini-Wilson. Uberti has stated that he met Antonini at a lunch hours before while in Caracas, and agreed to have him on the flight at the direct request of Uzcategui. This testimony is similar to the version given by his secretary Victoria Bereziuk. The PDVSA Vice-President refutes this, asserting that Uberti met Antonini three months prior and claiming that Bereziuk invited Antonini and his son to join the flight because there were two empty seats. He says that his son Daniel worked as an assistant to Antonini at the Uruguayan company Umissa, which manufactures prefabricated homes and trades them to Venezuela for oil. ¶6. (U) Venezuelan Daily "El Universal" reports that prosecutors Maria Luz Rivas Diez and Mariano Borinsky appealed Judge Daniel Petrone's decision to change the charges against the Uzcateguis from "aggravated smuggling," to "money laundering" to which carries lesser sentence if convicted, and also allows the accused to remain free on bail, pending trial. The two were scheduled to appear before Judge Daniel Patrone in Buenos Aires May 28 after missing three previous court dates. Their lawyer claimed that past absences were because his clients, currently living in Venezuela, had trouble leaving the country due to passport problems. The prosecution wants the judge to order the capture of the Uzcateguis, but Patrone has not yet moved forward with the issuance of domestic warrants. In the end, the Uzcateguis did not appear in court May 28. Comment -------------- ¶7. (SBU) New statements by Uzcategui senior certainly cast doubts on Uberti's earlier claims. However, given the Uzcategui's history of non-attendance at court dates (a history that was revalidated on May 28) and likely fears of being incarcerated following their statements before the judge, it is unlikely that the testimony of either father or son will ever be heard in court. ¶8. (C) La Nacion's reporting on Uberti's movements and cellular phone calls will feed speculation about the Casa Rosada's level of involvement in the suitcase scandal. Uberti, who was until last year a high-level GOA official with direct access to then-president Nestor Kirchner, was rumored to serve as a bag man who helped to move funds from Caracas to Argentine beneficiaries. The records do not, however, implicate either of the Kirchners in the scandal, nor do they prove that Uberti sought or obtained undue influence to secure the release of the seized suitcase. Given Uberti's position at the time, he would have cause to contact presidential staff as well as officials in other GOA agencies. WAYNE