Judicial challenges to criminal case dismissals in Salta

Legal proceedings in Salta, Argentina, have seen recent efforts by prosecutors to overturn previous judicial dismissals in high-profile criminal cases.

In the case of former police commissioner Joaquín Guil, the Federal Chamber of Cassation has reinstated a criminal investigation into crimes against humanity. Judges Alejandro Slokar and Ángela Ledesma overturned a prior dismissal, ruling that the decision lacked sufficient legal reasoning. The court emphasized that investigations into crimes against humanity—specifically the unlawful deprivation of liberty and torture of a university student during the military dictatorship—require a high degree of ‘negative certainty’ to be terminated. This follows successful appeals by Prosecutor General Eduardo José Villalba, who argued the initial dismissal was premature.

Separately, a specialized prosecution unit has moved to reopen the investigation into the 2011 murders of French tourists Cassandre Bouvier and Houria Moumni in Quebrada de San Lorenzo. Prosecutors are seeking to annul the dismissal of Walter Lasi, the father of the only person currently convicted of the crime. The prosecution alleges an “arbitrary” evaluation of evidence, claiming that genetic evidence and links to the murder weapon were used to incriminate other suspects but were applied exculpatorily for Lasi without justification.

New developments in the homicide case include pending results from DNA studies conducted in France and an investigation into an anonymous letter suggesting the involvement of individuals in power. To verify the letter, prosecutors have requested assistance from Spanish authorities to locate a potential author for handwriting analysis and confrontation.