Once defendants cannot leave country

The Federal Appeals Court yesterday ruled that former transport secretaries Ricardo Jaime and Juan Pablo Schiavi, former national transport regulation director (CNRT) Pedro Ochoa and businessmen Sergio and Mario Cirigliano would be prevented from leaving the country due to the Once railway tragedy for which they are all indicted and due to testify in court.

The courthouse confirmed the decision not to permit the accused to leave the country made by federal Judge Claudio Bonadio, with the court making a supporting statement which said “anyone who is indicted must face some type of restrictions when being investigated,” informed judicial sources.

Last week Judges Eduardo Farah, Horacio Cattani and Martín Irurzun confirmed the indictments of the government officials for the Once Railway accident last February 22, which caused 51 deaths and over 800 injuries.

In addition to being banned from leaving the country, the defendants will have to check in with the Federal Police delegation every 30 days, and cannot be away from their residences for more than 24 hours, nor travel more than 60 kilometres without notifying authorities.

Other defendants are former CNRT director Eduardo Sícaro and former railway transport deputy secretary Antonio Luna, charged with embezzlement and malfeasance, which could carry an 11-year jail sentence.

Judge Bonadio last week finished investigations for the case and began the indictment process so that former government officials, 20 other businessmen and train engine-driver Marco Antonio Córdoba go on trial.

Family members and friends will hold a memorial today for the 11th month anniversary since the accident occurred in the Sarmiento line train station.

The event will begin with the sounding of a whistle in the central hall of the station at 8:32am, the time the accident occurred last February 22 and a few of those present will read a statement written for the occasion about the progress of the penal case, it was reported in a press release.

Herald with DyN