Death of Alberto Nisman
[1][2][3][4] The Judge in charge of Nisman's death case since Claudio Bonadio's demise in 2020, Julián Ercolini, chose to partially take the Gendarmerie's forensic findings indicating a murder (similarly as with the Federal Chamber and the Court of Cassation) as well as ratifying the presumption of homicide,[5] so that is the figure that still stands nine years after the death of the prosecutor,[5] but far from finding the material authors, the investigation apparently remains determined to only search for whoever gave the alleged order to murder Nisman.
[5] Meanwhile, other files that also emerged from the main investigation are completely paralyzed, including a case for alleged money laundering that involves relatives of Nisman and his employee Diego Lagomarsino,[5] a case for an undeclared bank account in New York and purchased lands in Punta del Este,[5] and suspicious real estate ventures in Buenos Aires.
[7] The 2013 signing of a memorandum of understanding with Iran to facilitate the investigation led to a breach between Nisman and President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner.
[8] The accusation was based on Nisman's belief that the administration had petitioned Interpol to lift Red Notices against numerous Iranian officials during the negotiations.
Judge Rafecas held in his ruling that "none of the two hypotheses of a crime put forward by prosecutor Pollicita in his writ stand up to the minimum level of scrutiny".
[15] Pollicita did not succeed Nisman as chief AMIA prosecutor; this office was headed as of 13 February by a prosecution task force led by coordinator Juan Murray.
[16] In a complaint issued on Tuesday January 13, 2015, Nisman accused President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, Minister of Foreign Relations Héctor Timerman, deputy Andrés Larroque and the piqueteros Luis D'Elia and Fernando Esteche of concealment.
"[10] Nisman claimed that Cristina Fernandez had ordered an agent of the "SIDE" (Secretariat of Intelligence) she trusts or Andrés Larroque, and both delivered that to Esteche or to D'Elia.
D'Elia communicated to the alleged Iranian agent Alejandro Yussuf Khalil, who telephoned Mohsen Rabbani (one of the parties accused of the 1994 bombing).
According to Nisman, the reasons for the orders were intended to overcome "the Argentina energy crisis through an exchange of [Iranian] oil with [Argentine] grains" and "even sell arms [to Iran]".
"[17] but cable actually said "Legatt officers have for the past two years recommended to Nisman that he focus on the perpetrators of the terrorist attack and not on the possible mishandling of the first investigation.
[22] Nisman had made numerous cryptic comments shortly before his death, including a WhatsApp message that said "I'm better than ever and sooner than later the truth will prevail".
