Overview
- Ricardo Jaime, who testified before Federal Oral Court No. 7 on Tuesday, denied taking bribes and said cooperating businessmen gave statements under extortion.
- Juan Pablo Schiavi, Jaime’s successor in the Transport Secretariat, also rejected bribery claims and labeled the Centeno notes invalid photocopies presented with poor custody.
- The case centers on driver Oscar Centeno’s notebooks, which investigators used to trace alleged cash deliveries and which many businessmen later reinforced through plea deals.
- Prosecutors say the transport area collected a 5% cut on contracts between 2003 and 2009, with Aldo Roggio describing monthly cash payments tied to subsidies and Benjamín Romero reporting a $600,000 payment linked to a Hidrovía decree that he said ran through Jaime.
- After giving his account, Jaime returned to prison to serve a Supreme Court–upheld sentence in the Once rail case, while the high-profile TOF 7 trial continues with defendants that include Cristina Kirchner.