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