Argentina court merges Hotesur and Los Sauces corruption trials

The Federal Chamber of Criminal Cassation has ruled that the Hotesur and Los Sauces corruption cases will be processed as a single trial. This decision revokes a previous order by the 5th Federal Oral Tribunal that had sought to separate the two proceedings.

The unified trial is scheduled to begin this Friday. The ruling, reached by a majority of the Chamber's first panel, follows appeals from the Public Prosecutor's Office and the Financial Information Unit. Judges Daniel Antonio Petrone and Diego G. Barroetaveña argued that the legal connection between the cases justified a joint trial, noting that organizational difficulties or the volume of witnesses do not justify splitting the proceedings.

Judge Alejandro Slokar dissented, arguing that the management of the debate is primarily the responsibility of the trial court.