Hernán Casciari faces criminal complaint for alleged fraud at Orsai Audiovisuales

Writer Hernán Casciari and his company, Orsai Audiovisuales, are under investigation by the Buenos Aires judiciary following a criminal complaint filed by 18 investors. The complainants allege fraud and fraudulent administration regarding a collective financing model used to fund audiovisual projects such as ‘Canelones’, ‘La uruguaya’, and a Diego Maradona documentary.

Investors, who contributed between USD 50 and USD 3,000 each, claim they were promised significant returns that never materialized. Many report receiving less than 3% of their capital or nothing at all. The legal complaint, handled by Criminal Court No. 34 and Prosecution No. 16, alleges opaque fund management and the unauthorized transfer of money between different productions without investor consent.

Casciari has publicly rejected the accusations, stating in a video that there was no premeditated intent to defraud. He attributed the situation to management errors and communication failures, noting that while most projects succeeded, one specifically failed. To support his defense, he provided a QR code containing expense reports and invoices for projects conducted between 2021 and 2025. High-profile figures, including former footballer José Chatruc, have also come forward as victims of the investment scheme.