Prosecutor seeks arrest of AFA head Tapia in Santiago del Estero case

Federal prosecutor Pedro Simón requested the arrest of Argentine Football Association (AFA) president Claudio “Chiqui” Tapia in a Santiago del Estero case on Friday. Simón’s request also called for the detention of AFA treasurer — and Santiago del Estero native — Pablo Toviggino. Argentine media reported that Simón is accusing Tapia and Toviggino of aggravated criminal conspiracy and money laundering in a local investigation. Simón also requested search warrants, expert analysis, and a general freeze on the defendants’ assets. To address the petition, the case has been transferred to a judge in Tucumán province, as Santiago del Estero judge Sebastián Argibay, who was originally handling it, is on vacation. The prosecutor based his request on reports from the Customs Collection and Control Agency (ARCA) and the General Inspectorate of Justice (IGJ), which reveal purchases and financial transactions that do not appear to match the defendants’ declared income. Tapia has been under investigation for alleged tax evasion, money laundering and other financial crimes since the start of the year. Last March, he was summoned for questioning in a Buenos Aires court, in an investigation to find out whether AFA allegedly failed to deposit tax withholdings and social security contributions totaling more than AR$19,350 trillion. At the time, Tapia refused to answer questions from the judge — which he’s entitled to do under Argentine law — and instead filed a written statement. “We complied with what the judge ordered, with what we were summoned for,” said Tapia after exiting the court.