A few days after the case file of Loan Peña was made accessible, Federal Judge Cristina Pozzer Penzo reinstated the secrecy of the investigation for 10 days. This decision came following the lengthy interrogation of former commissioner Walter Maciel, one of the eight suspects linked to the child’s disappearance in Corrientes.
According to the court order signed by Judge Pozzer Penzo from the federal court of Goya: "Decree the secrecy of the investigation in this case for ten days in accordance with the provisions of Article 204, second paragraph, last part of the National Criminal Procedure Code (CPPN) and for the reasons given in the considerations." This means that neither the defense nor the plaintiffs can access the two undisclosed interrogations, namely that of the former commissioner of Nueve de Julio accused of covering up and hiding a minor under ten years old, and that of Daniel "Fierrito" Ramírez, who was questioned for over four hours and was with Loan at the time of the disappearance.
This doesn’t sit well with the authoritarian figures.
Professional and critical journalism is a fundamental pillar of democracy, which is why it annoys those who believe they own the truth.
Case Update: Following Laudelina’s testimony, a former police officer with ties to Commissioner Maciel was arrested.
In her statement, the federal judge explained the renewed secrecy decision. She noted that the detainment of a new suspect, Francisco Amado Méndez, a retired policeman from Corrientes and informant for Maciel, justified reinstating the secrecy to perform urgent procedural acts.
Among the considerations, Judge Pozzer Penzo stated: "On July 15, 2024, I assumed instruction and held judicial proceedings to address urgent matters, summoning the suspects Laudelina Peña, Victoria Caillava, Carlos Guido Pérez, Daniel Oscar Ramírez, Bernardino Antonio Benítez, and Walter Adrián Maciel."
She continued, explaining that new evidence suggested another suspect’s involvement, Francisco Amado Méndez, prompting further detainment orders. She cited Article 204 again to justify ten days of secrecy to avoid jeopardizing the investigation.
Maciel’s Detailed Testimony and Upcoming Confrontations:
Judge Pozzer Penzo’s schedule marked that on Friday, ex-commissioner Walter Maciel testified at Goya’s Federal Court regarding his role in Loan Peña’s disappearance. Since his detainment, Maciel has been held at the Federal Penitentiary Unit No. 7 in Chaco and was the first to give in-person testimony.
Arriving around midday and starting his testimony at 4 PM, Maciel’s interrogation, the longest among the suspects, lasted about eight hours. During this time, he implicated two other detainees, Laudelina Peña and Antonio Benítez, leading to a prospective confrontation between them.
Earlier, Judge Pozzer Penzo had approved a request for a confrontation between Benítez and another suspect, submitted by Benítez’s defense to meet his wife, Laudelina Peña.
Judge Pozzer Penzo’s ruling included allowing the confrontation under Articles 276, 277, and 278 of the CPPN, with the condition that it would only proceed if Laudelina Peña agreed.
Two main issues would be addressed: first, regarding Loan’s disappearance, where Benítez and Peña have conflicting statements, and second, Benítez’s denied association with Pérez and Caillava, whereas Peña claimed he did work for them. If Laudelina consents, this will be another encounter with Benítez, her partner and the father of her youngest child.
