In the recent development of the Penadés case, a young man who had previously been in prison for serious injuries has been formally charged. This individual, due to his relationship with male VIP prostitution, was able to access critical information for Carlos Tarocco, the former director of Comcar, who had already been convicted in March for his role in this “plot.” According to the sources of the investigation, Tarocco himself sought to cover up for former senator Gustavo Penadés, which involved identifying and preventing potential victims from testifying against him.
One of the defendant’s strategies was to persuade those allegedly affected by the case to testify against Jonathan Mastropierro, one of the already identified victims. This approach attempted to exploit Mastropierro’s criminal record, which could serve to discredit the accusations by presenting a theory of cover-up through slander.
Promises and rewards in the cover-up plot
The promises were not only moral, but also economic. According to sources from TV Ciudad and El País, Tarocco offered the young prisoner the sum of US$ 30 thousand in exchange for his services. In the plot, this defendant had minimal knowledge of both Penadés and Mastropierro, which made him a valuable asset within the network that allegedly sought to silence the victims.
Tarocco’s role, with his background as head of prison intelligence, gave him privileged access to multiple information sources. Prosecutor Alicia Ghione’s accusations indicate that this new defendant shared images with Tarocco, who in turn was responsible for showing this information to Penadés to identify potential witnesses.
New charges and provisional house arrest
This young man was captured again after an attempted escape from a hospital, which led the Prosecutor’s Office to decide to continue his preventive detention. He is currently facing charges of bribery and is under house arrest at night while his case proceeds. His defense is being handled by lawyer Pablo Casas, known for handling high-profile cases.
In March, Tarocco was sentenced in an abbreviated trial where he was charged with qualified bribery, criminal association and multiple counts of revealing secrets. In exchange for his participation in this illegal scheme, he had been promised a higher position within the Masonic lodge and a home.
Hearing of the case in September and possible extensions of pretrial detention
The Penadés case has an important chapter scheduled for September 23, when a hearing will be held that could establish the course of the judicial process in the following six months. It will be essential to determine whether former senator Penadés and professor Sebastián Mauvezín continue under preventive detention while the litigation is resolved. This detention period has been extended due to the perception that releasing the accused could pose a risk to the victims and the process.
Prosecutor Ghione plans to request an extension of the investigative period beyond the key date of October 10. This will allow her to decide whether to prosecute the defendants or request their exoneration. Although those involved have not shown any intention of reaching an abbreviated agreement, the prosecutor still has the power to ask for more time for a thorough investigation.
New accusations on the horizon in the Penadés case
Since the beginning of the case, Penadés has faced charges of sexual crimes, including remuneration for the sexual exploitation of minors, aggravated sexual abuse and rape. However, the Prosecutor’s Office is now focused on adding new charges related to the “plot” designed to cover up the case. To date, six people have been convicted for their participation in these attempts to protect the alleged offender, although Penadés has not been formally charged with these collateral crimes until now.
The September hearing will be crucial to determine whether the charges are formally expanded, setting a precedent for future prosecutions involving criminal protection networks and exploitation inside and outside prisons. This case continues to attract attention for its implications and the caliber of those involved, keeping the public on the lookout for its outcome.
