Wednesday, February 27, 2013

‘Schoklenders stole everything,’ Bonafini

Hebe de Bonafini, head of the Mothers of Plaza de Mayo, said that Sergio and Pablo Schoklender, former financial managers of the human rights organization’s foundation, “stole everything,” adding that she was “betrayed and swindled” as she testified in the investigation probing the alleged money-laundering and embezzlement of state funds for social housing projects carried out by the Foundation.

Bonafini, a witness in the case, denied handling the bank accounts from which the money was allegedly transferred. She then admitted to signing the board’s documents, which are now under suspicion, but added that Sergio Schoklender was the person in charge of making them and that she trusted him, legal sources reported.

For three and a half hours, the head of the human rights foundation answered the court’s questions during a hearing which was not attended by Judge Norberto Oyarbide. Instead it was headed by federal secretary Carlos Leiva.

Bonafini refused to greet Pablo Slonimsqui, Pablo Schoklender’s attorney, as she walked into the courtroom. When Slonimsqui asked whether the national government delayed payments of the housing projects, Bonafini burst out: “The government paid in due time but your clients stole everything.”

The Schoklender brothers were convicted in 1981 for the murder of both their parents and Bonafini met them while they were serving their sentence in prison. She explained they established an affectionate relationship and that she treated Sergio as a son. Bonafini stated she trusted Sergio and his projects but when she found out about the Foundation’s irregularities, she felt “betrayed and defrauded.”

According to Bonafini’s testimony, she issued a legal document allowing Sergio Schoklender to manage the Foundation’s assets because he asked her to do so. Bonafini, 84, said she signed the documents of the directors board without knowing what they said because she trusted Sergio Schoklender and administrative secretary Patricia Alonso. She then added that these two people managed the Foundation’s bank accounts.

Bonafini was also asked about her daughter Alejandra Bonafini, a defendant in the case, but the question was not accepted by the court because the law does not allow having parents testifying against their children.

Mothers of Plaza de Mayo María de las Mercedes Colas and Evel de Petini will testify tomorrow in the case.

A total of 44 suspects were indicted in the case, including the Schoklender brothers and accountant Alejandro Gotkin, who were taken into custody accused of leading the association which conspired to commit crimes.

Herald with DyN