The Cuadernos Case investigates bribe payments for public works contracts between 2003 and 2015. The oral trial began on November 6, 2025 before Federal Oral Court 7, with 87 defendants: 22 former officials and 65 businessmen. Prosecutor Fabiana León accuses Cristina Fernández de Kirchner of leading an illicit association with Julio De Vido and Roberto Baratta. The businessmen face charges of active bribery and gifts, with a total amount estimated at 70 million dollars in bribes, according to notes by Oscar Centeno and confessions of 25 repentants. In October 2025, TOF 7 rejected economic reparation offers of 12 to 21 million dollars from 50 defendants, to prioritize public debate.
The most committed businessmen, by volume of payments attributed and role in the scheme, include those who controlled tenders in construction, energy and transportation. Carlos Wagner, from Esuco and former president of the Argentine Chamber of Construction (Camarco), confessed in 2018 to being the main collector. He admitted coordinating bribes of $50 million in 200 contracts, delivered in bags to Baratta in the building of the Undersecretariat of Public Works. His testimony details weekly meetings where he distributed fixed quotas of 1% to 5% of each work.
Ángelo Calcaterra, from IECSA (part of the Macri Group), faces accusations of 8 million dollars in bribes for road works in Santa Cruz and railways. He did not accept repentance, but expert reports confirm deliveries in 2010 and 2013. He sold the company in 2017 for 400 million dollars. In September 2025, he offered 2.4 billion pesos to extinguish the criminal action, rejected by the court.
Aldo Roggio, of the Roggio Group (Metrovías and Emova), partially repentant, confessed to payments of 4 million dollars in 2008 for subway concessions and waste collection in Buenos Aires. His notes in Centeno’s notebooks record 15 deliveries on Tucumán Street. He proposed 1.5 billion pesos in repairs, including real estate.
Enrique Pescarmona, from IMPSA, admitted bribes of 3 million dollars in wind and hydroelectric contracts, such as the Cóndor Cliff dam. His confession details shipments to Río Gallegos in 2012. Gerardo Ferreyra, from Electroingeniería, confessed 5 million dollars for works in Yacyretá and energy subsidies, with payments in dollars to José López in 2014.
Cristóbal López and Fabián De Sousa, of the Indalo Group, face charges for 2 million dollars in oil licenses in Vaca Muerta. López, accused without repentance, appears in 12 Centeno entries for deliveries in Olivos. They offered $1 million in September 2025.
Héctor Zabaleta, former manager of Techint, repentant, confessed to 10 million dollars for gas pipelines and steel plants, including Sidor in Venezuela. Juan Carlos De Goycoechea, of Isolux Corsán, admitted 2.5 million dollars for the Río Turbio plant, with technical failures that cost the State 300 million dollars.
These cases show a circuit where businessmen paid to be awarded 1,200 works, according to the AFIP. The trial foresees 500 hearings in two years, with evidence of bank statements and videos of deliveries. The confessions of repentants like Wagner and Clarens, who moved 20 bags, support the accusation. The process could extend until 2027, exposing the link between state contracts and illegal payments.
