The far-right politician is being investigated for alleged fraud, bribery, and abuse of authority.

On Thursday, Federal Judge Maria Servini requested banking information on President Javier Milei and Presidential Secretary Karina Milei as part of the ongoing judicial investigation into the $LIBRA cryptocurrency case.

RELATED:

Argentine President Summoned to Pretrial Mediation for $LIBRA Crypto Scam

More specifically, the judge issued a formal request to the Argentine Central Bank for information on financial institutions that have held or are currently holding accounts under the names of Milei, his sister, and three other individuals charged in the cryptocurrency scandal.

The measure, which is being processed under judicial secrecy, aims to clarify the financial developments of those under investigation. The move follows several complaints filed after President Milei publicly promoted the cryptocurrency in February, which then collapsed just hours later.

The request to the Central Bank includes banking information from 2023 to the present. This information is part of a classified file relating to the Argentine president. Currently, the investigation is being handled by Federal Prosecutor Eduardo Taiano.

Judge Servini also ordered a 90-day freeze on the assets of three defendants in this case: Mauricio Novelli, a crypto entrepreneur reportedly closely linked to Milei; Sergio Morales, a former advisor to the National Securities Commission; and Manuel Terrones, a co-founder of Tech Forum.

The court order extends to Novelli’s immediate family members, following the release of security camera footage that may show a possible removal of assets from safety deposit boxes by his mother and sister shortly after the cryptocurrency’s launch.

The footage dated Feb. 17, 2025 — the first business day after President Milei’s social media post — shows Novelli’s mother, Maria Alicia Rafaele, and sister, Maria Pia Novelli, entering the Martinez branch of Banco Galicia, just outside Buenos Aires, carrying what appear to be empty bags. About an hour later, they were seen leaving with the same bags, which appeared to be filled with money.

The safety deposit boxes were subsequently searched under court order in the following days and found to be empty. The Prosecutor’s Office is investigating whether the actions captured on video were part of a scheme to conceal assets obtained through the cryptocurrency operation, which is being treated as a potential financial fraud.

The $LIBRA scandal has had wide-reaching political repercussions in Argentina. Opposition lawmakers have called for the creation of a parliamentary investigative committee and have filed criminal complaints against Milei, his sister, and several officials for alleged fraud, bribery and abuse of authority.

teleSUR/ JF

Source: EFE

IN THIS ARTICLE