Vialidad trial: witness reveals massive overpricing in Santa Cruz public works

During the second oral trial for Vialidad, a witness testified regarding significant overpricing in public works projects in Santa Cruz. Daniel Semino, a former member of the Department of Verification and Debt Update at the National Highway Directorate (DNV), stated that certain items, such as utility poles, were billed at one million pesos despite a market value of approximately one hundred thousand pesos.

Semino noted that while his department handled interest liquidation for advance payments, it did not control technical execution or define work certificate amounts. He identified several companies linked to Grupo Báez, including Austral Construcciones and Gotti, as entities utilizing these advance payment mechanisms. Additionally, testimony from Marcelo Bianchi, former head of the DNV Internal Audit Unit, indicated that the agency did not audit provincial bidding processes.