San Juan judge imposes heavy fines for environmental damage in Pampa del Leoncito

A judge in Calingasta, San Juan, has ordered Agustín Añó and Pablo Abraham to pay more than 9.2 million pesos in fines for causing environmental damage in the protected Pampa del Leoncito area.

The incident occurred when the pair drove a Toyota Hilux off-road into a fragile, clay-based terrain during a period of rain and snowmelt. The vehicle became stuck, leaving deep ruts that experts from the Universidad Nacional de San Juan estimate could take between 50 and 100 years to recover naturally.

Judge Andrés Troche ruled that each individual must pay a fine equivalent to 15 minimum provincial public administration salaries, totaling approximately 4,387,320 pesos per person. Additionally, Abraham was fined an extra 456,800 pesos for intentionally bypassing a Gendarmería National control point on National Route 149. The vehicle has since been authorized for removal following a coordinated operation by environmental and security authorities.