Criminal complaint targets government over alleged misuse of Nucleoeléctrica funds

National deputy Esteban Paulón filed a criminal complaint against the former president of Nucleoeléctrica Argentina S.A. (NASA) Demian Reidel, Economy Minister Luis Caputo, and Chief of Staff Manuel Adorni. The complaint alleges irregularities in the use of funds linked to the state-owned company. On Monday the courts assigned the case to a judge by lottery. The filing argues that the alleged irregularities could constitute crimes of embezzlement of public funds. According to the complaint, the events stem from Adorni’s presentation before Congress on April 29, as part of his administrative report before the Chamber of Deputies. According to the document, the written responses provided by Adorni included an annex detailing expenses made with corporate cards of NASA.  The Argentine electricity generation company operates the Embalse and Atucha I and II nuclear power plants and is owned by the Ministry of Economy, the National Atomic Energy Commission (CNEA) and state-owned Argentine energy company ENARSA. Paulón argues that the official information revealed transactions that “in practice entail the use of cash” outside the controls of the corporate card system. He also warned that “cash advances of AR$56,000,000” — around US$40,000 — were allegedly recorded. The complaint also mentions spending in personal and leisure categories, including “perfumery, cosmetics and hairdressing, duty free shop,” as well as expenses abroad. In particular, it lists spending in tourist destinations like “Rio de Janeiro, Punta Cana, Angra dos Reis and Salamanca,” in addition to international flights and hotel stays in various cities around the world. Spending at airport shops, mainly in Spain, totalled US$5,957 and ARS 1,100,000 (US$785). Beach, drinks and clothes Other items include services such as “Pub El Pirata” and “Mar y Sombra SL” — which includes beach umbrellas, massage sessions, cocktails and snacks — as well as purchases at international retailers such as Decathlon Ortega y Gasset, Adidas India and Adidas Istanbul. Spending was also recorded on international airlines such as Air Europa, American Airlines and United Airlines, and at hotels and accommodations including Hotel Mayorazgo in Madrid, Facade Hotel Amsterdam, Hotel Du Parc Baden AG (Switzerland), St. Regis Hotel Singapore, Hotel Meliá Castilla, Gale Miami Hotel and Resort, Windsor Leme Hotel and Vienna Marriott Hotel, among others. According to the filing, “the information provided does not indicate which official the expenses correspond to,” despite the fact that around 100 people are said to be authorized to use those funds. The lawmaker stressed that these expenses would have had the “approval of higher-ranking officials” and again questioned the lack of identification of those responsible. Against the rules In another section, the complaint focuses on the current regulations governing travel expenses for public officials.  It notes that Administrative Decision 888/2024 sets caps of 188 euros per day for travel expenses and 388 euros for accommodation, and recalls that the legal framework defines these funds as intended to cover official mission expenses. Based on these elements, Paulón considers that the conduct described “could fall under” the offence of embezzlement of public funds, as set out in Articles 260 to 264 of the Criminal Code. In the petition, the deputy requested that documentary evidence — including a press article and spending records — be incorporated to the case and that a criminal investigation be launched “in order to clarify the reported facts” and any potential criminal liability.Originally published in Ámbito