Argentina casinos at center of political money laundering probe
Argentina's Carabinieri this week issued a search warrant at the Victoria Casino as part of a case involving money laundering and illicit enrichment. The investigation has focused on Martín Insaurralde, the recently out-of-favour former Buenos Aires provincial cabinet president, but it is expanding into multiple areas.
The arrest warrant allowed the Carabinieri to request documents from casinos in the city of Rosario. The company has not previously responded to prosecutors' requests to release the documents.
The raid focused primarily on Inshorad, but also on his ex-wife, TV presenter Jessica Sirio, who is also suspected of having links to the money-laundering scheme, although the investigation has yet to produce evidence that would be admissible in court.
The world is collapsing
Last year, Sirio hosted a TV show called "Mujeres de la Selección" (Women of the National Team). As part of a program sponsored by Victoria Casino, Sirio visited the wives of Argentine national football team players in cities across Europe.
Solade has been criticized recently for his lavish lifestyle and questionable spending. As a result, a casino owned by local business tycoon Daniel Mautone became the focus of a larger investigation.
Motone owns a casino and several bingo halls in Argentina. He is also said to have helped control the Buenos Aires provincial lottery, people linked to Insaurade reported.
Some suspect that this patronage was actually a secret bribe for Sirio. The unconfirmed theory is that the money will ensure that Motone continues to control all of his gaming activities without interference.
Things began to fall apart for Insaurralde, 53, after a recent extracurricular trip. More than a month ago, his girlfriend, Argentinian model Sofía Clérici, posted photos of the two on a yacht off the coast of Marbella, Spain, in September. She also shared photos of gifts she said she received from the career politician, including a high-end Rolex watch and a Louis Vuitton handbag.
Questions have been raised about how Inshallader could afford the life he lived and the $20 million he allegedly gave Sirio to settle their divorce.
In late October, investigators searched Clérici's home and seized nearly $570,000. Authorities believe this may be part of the same money laundering operation.
The consequences led to Insaurad retiring from politics altogether. He resigned from his position and withdrew his candidacy as a representative of the municipality of Lomas de Zamora, where he had previously served two terms as mayor.
Mautone’s Shady Deal
Motone is the president of Casino Victoria and a well-known figure in Argentina's entertainment and gaming industry. His gambling career began with opening various bingo halls and expanded to various businesses. These include casinos, including Casino Victoria and Casino de Mapo de Mendoza, as well as hotels.
Mautone is reportedly a minority shareholder in Betsson and this week's raid on the Victoria Casino is just one of the issues currently facing Mautone. In most provinces where he operated gambling dens, he accounted for about 40 percent of total revenue, according to government data. However, in the province of Entre Ríos, and specifically in Casino Victoria, his revenue is 70%.
As is the case with other gambling entrepreneurs in Argentina, this led some to speculate that someone was manipulating the accounts. To date, Motone has not been formally accused of any wrongdoing.
This may change depending on the direction of the investigation. Argentinian authorities have only begun to delve deeper into Insaurad's activities, but they are unraveling his life.
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Source: www.casino.org
