Atta Gerala convicted of rail theft and smuggling to Bolivia

The Federal Chamber of Criminal Cassation has overturned the acquittal of Atta Miguel Gerala, the former mayor of Coronel Juan Solá (Morillo) in Salta, Argentina. The court declared him a necessary participant in the aggravated theft and smuggling of railway rails from the Belgrano Railway's C25 branch.

Investigators found that the stolen rails were transported through clandestine border crossings to Bolivia. The operation involved the systematic dismantling of infrastructure over several months. The court noted that the crime was aggravated by the number of people involved, the participation of a public official, and the high value of the goods.

Other individuals involved in the scheme have already been sentenced, including Gerala's son, José Miguel Gerala, and a merchant named David Medina, both of whom received six years in prison. A member of the National Gendarmerie, Jorge Fernando Cabrera, was also convicted for facilitating the transport of the cargo in exchange for money. A hearing will be scheduled to determine Gerala's specific sentence.