Federal Justice took a new step in one of the most sensitive investigations of alleged corruption that went through the government of Javier Milei by ordering that the former holder of the National Disability Agency (ANDIS), Diego Spagnuoloprovide a voice sample to determine if the leaked audios that triggered the so-called “ANDIS scandal” belong to you.
The measure was ordered by federal judge Ariel Lijo, who entrusted the Criminalistics and Forensic Studies Directorate of the National Gendarmerie with carrying out technical expertise aimed at establishing the authenticity of the recordings and ruling out possible manipulations through artificial intelligence or digital alterations. The decision came after federal prosecutor Franco Picardi promoted various evidentiary measures in a case that has already acquired a strong political and institutional dimension.
The audios, initially broadcast by the Carnaval streaming channel and later replicated by numerous media and social networks, were attributed to Spagnuolo, Milei’s trusted lawyer and head of the government agency until his removal from office. In the recordings, a voice that could be that of the former official is heard describing an alleged system of illegal returns linked to the purchase of medicines for beneficiaries of the state agency. The conversations mention the Secretary General of the Presidency, Karina Milei; to the Undersecretary of Institutional Management, Eduardo “Lule” Menem; and to the Suizo Argentina drugstore, one of the main suppliers to the pharmaceutical sector.
According to the complaints included in the file, the investigated scheme would consist of charging percentages on contracts and purchases of medicines managed by ANDIS.
In one of the fragments released publicly, the voice attributed to Spagnuolo maintains that “What Lule is doing is that he is dripping in a way…”while in another passage he states that “He’s not involved, but it’s all his people”. Expressions were also spread in which the former official claims to have personally warned the head of state about alleged irregularities: “I spoke with the President. I told him: ‘Javi, this, this and this is happening'”. Different media also published audios mentioning the existence of percentages that would allegedly be distributed among different political actors linked to the ruling party.
The investigation took on an even greater dimension when direct references to the same sister of the Head of State appeared in the recordings. According to the content of the audios attributed to Spagnuolo, a part of the returns obtained through contracts linked to medicines would have gone to officials in the presidential environment.
The names of Karina Milei and Eduardo “Lule” Menem appear repeatedly in the sound records, a situation that led to criminal complaints, requests for investigation and a strong political controversy. Those involved rejected the accusations and the ruling party denounced the existence of a political operation aimed at harming the Government.
The case also put the Suizo Argentina drug store and its managers under the microscope. The businessmen Jonathan and Emmanuel Kovalivker They were mentioned in different judicial proceedings and in the publicly released recordings themselves. Researchers analyze the possible existence of overpricing, irregular intermediations and improper payments linked to the provision of medicines for people with disabilities. As part of the evidentiary measures, Justice advanced with raids, seizure of documentation, analysis of cell phones and survey of hirings made during Spagnuolo’s management.
The file originated from a complaint filed by the lawyer Gregorio Dalbón, who requested that possible crimes of bribery, influence peddling, fraudulent administration and violations of the Public Ethics Law be investigated. Subsequently, prosecutor Franco Picardi promoted various measures aimed at determining whether there was an organization intended to direct state contracts and obtain illegal economic benefits.
The main judicial discussion at this stage focuses on the authenticity of the audios. The defense of some of those involved questioned the validity of the material and raised the possibility that it had been manipulated. For that reason, Judge Ariel Lijo ordered a comprehensive expert opinion on the audio files and ordered that Spagnuolo be summoned to record a voice sample considered “undoubted material.” Gendarmerie specialists will compare this recording with the publicly released records to establish if there is correspondence between both voices. The result of this test is considered key because it could determine the probative value of the conversations that gave rise to the scandal.
Meanwhile, the investigation is advancing along multiple lines. Hiring, economic transfers, communications between officials and businessmen, asset movements and administrative documentation linked to the purchase of medicines are analyzed. The prosecution seeks to determine whether the alleged irregularities described in the audios had an effective correlation in administrative files and specific commercial operations.
Image gallery
