Lawyer for late prosecutor’s daughters says murder for ‘financial motive’ also a possibility
The lawyer representing San Isidro Federal Judge Sandra Arroyo Salgado yesterday acknowledged the possibility that late former AMIA special prosecutor Alberto Nisman may have committed suicide — possibly as a result of pressure from a third party.
In March, Nisman’s ex-wife defined the death of the attorney, in charge of investigating the worst terrorist attack ever perpetrated in the country, as an “assassination of unprecedented proportions.” But it now seems the plaintiffs are willing to consider a new hypothesis.
“Nisman’s daughter made it clear during the anniversary of the attack on the AMIA Jewish community centre that she only wants to know the truth,” lawyer Juan Pablo Vigliero told the Herald yesterday.
Vigliero is a member of the legal team hired by Arroyo Salgado to represent her and her two daughters, Iara and Kala, after the Public Defenders’ Office dropped their representation in June.
Vigliero’s acknowledgment that Nisman may have committed suicide means Arroyo Salgado’s lawyers are willing to examine similar lines of investigation as those being pursued by the prosecutor in charge of the case.
Sources close to prosecutor Viviana Fein, who is the one that must determine the circumstances of the death of her colleague, have repeatedly stated that she is working with three possibilities: suicide, induced suicide or homicide.
Arroyo Salgado, however, has long accused Fein of seeking to prove that the former AMIA special prosecutor committed suicide.
Could Nisman’s financial situation explain his his mysterious death?
I don’t have a firm hypothesis but do not close the door to any theory. I have to know what happened to him: if it was a suicide or a homicide. Once we know how Nisman died, we will find out the reason behind his death.
But doesn’t that mean you’re contradicting what Judge Arroyo Salgado said during her press conference in March in which she assured that Nisman was killed?
Sandra is Nisman’s ex-wife and the mother of his two daughters. The general mood in March was different from what we see today. Our forensic experts have the same opinion. If you look at the photograph of a man who is dead of a gunshot wound to the head inside a bathroom, you could believe he committed suicide. But if you take into account what happened to his personal computer, his mobile phone the situation changes. The crime scene was also modified and I don’t really know what position his body was found. So I personally distance myself from the suicide theory. Nisman’s daughter said during the AMIA anniversary that she wanted to know the truth, so we are not discarding any hypothesis.
And what is your general opinion of the investigation that prosecutor Fein is leading?
Less than two months ago when we took charge of the legal representation of Arroyo Salgado and her two daughters, the prosecutor told us that 80 percent of the probe was ready, but that was not true. I had the feeling that the case was about to be closed.
Sources said that there are a few forensic tests pending such as the analysis of the gun that was carried out in Salta province and the analysis of Nisman’s electronic devices …
I have no information about the gun test. Nothing is conclusive. In the first test, no gunpowder was found on Nisman’s hand. What will happen if it is found now? We don’t have the tests on the electronic devices yet and we have called on the prosecutor to carry out 46 separate moves to clarify the situation. This will not be over by October. I think she will not be able to close the case during this electoral year. This investigation is also likely to remain open next year. There are several witnesses who still have to be questioned and there are some depositions that have been incorrectly collected.
In March, when Arroyo Salgado sat down with Fein to report the existence of an undeclared account in Merrill Lynch, reports indicated that there could be economic reasons behind Nisman’s death. Is that still seen as a possibility?
I cannot confirm anything. I want a serious investigation and to analyze the big picture.
But there was speculation that the account was what caused friction between Arroyo Salgado and Nisman’s mother, Sara Garfunkel …
It’s possible that Nisman’s death has nothing to do with the undeclared money. My clients, Arroyo Salgado and her two daughters, are not implicated in the case that is being pursued by (Rodolfo) Canicoba Corral (on money laundering). They have not even included this issue in the estate. It is part of Nisman’s private life. Don’t forget that Arroyo Salgado and Nisman had been separated for years.
But isn’t it true that Arroyo Salgado and Garfunkel have contradictory interests?
In the investigation into the death of Nisman, there are no contradictory interests. We cannot think that Sara Garfunkel wanted her son dead. There can be contradictory interests in the alleged money-laundering case, but Arroyo Salgado is not a party in that case.
What do you think of the Buenos Aires City Appeals Court ruling that confirmed Fein as the lead investigator in the case?
That is innacurate. Fein was not confirmed. Two judges rejected the appeals request we filed and another backed our petition. The magistrates made it clear Judge Fabiana Palmaghini can take charge of the investigation whenever she wants. No one backs the way Fein is leading the probe. It was not a bad ruling for us.
But do you think that Palmaghini could provide guarantees that your views will get a better reception?
Fabiana Palmaghini is the only guarantee this case has. She is a reliable judge and a strong woman.
The same can be said about Fein, right? No one could say that she is part of the internal rifts of the secret services, for instance.
If I had evidence of a crime, I would file a complaint. Fein has worked hard, but this case has proven to be too much for her. I’m not satisfied with her performance.
There were also reports that claimed Arroyo Salgado wanted the case to be sent to a federal court. Was that her intention?
No. She never discussed that with us.
Do you still believe that IT expert Diego Lagomarsino had close ties to the secret services?
I’m only interested in facts. Some media outlets report that we are accusing Lagomarsino, but that is not right. So far he is only a witness in the case.
But Arroyo Salgado, at least before you came on board, linked him to Nisman’s death …
He is linked, in fact. According to his own words, he lent Nisman the gun that killed him. But let’s make it clear. I have not filed any accusation against him for Nisman’s death.
@lucianabertoia
The lawyer representing San Isidro Federal Judge Sandra Arroyo Salgado yesterday acknowledged the possibility that late former AMIA special prosecutor Alberto Nisman may have committed suicide — possibly as a result of pressure from a third party.
In March, Nisman’s ex-wife defined the death of the attorney, in charge of investigating the worst terrorist attack ever perpetrated in the country, as an “assassination of unprecedented proportions.” But it now seems the plaintiffs are willing to consider a new hypothesis.
“Nisman’s daughter made it clear during the anniversary of the attack on the AMIA Jewish community centre that she only wants to know the truth,” lawyer Juan Pablo Vigliero told the Herald yesterday.
Vigliero is a member of the legal team hired by Arroyo Salgado to represent her and her two daughters, Iara and Kala, after the Public Defenders’ Office dropped their representation in June.
Vigliero’s acknowledgment that Nisman may have committed suicide means Arroyo Salgado’s lawyers are willing to examine similar lines of investigation as those being pursued by the prosecutor in charge of the case.
Sources close to prosecutor Viviana Fein, who is the one that must determine the circumstances of the death of her colleague, have repeatedly stated that she is working with three possibilities: suicide, induced suicide or homicide.
Arroyo Salgado, however, has long accused Fein of seeking to prove that the former AMIA special prosecutor committed suicide.
Could Nisman’s financial situation explain his his mysterious death?
I don’t have a firm hypothesis but do not close the door to any theory. I have to know what happened to him: if it was a suicide or a homicide. Once we know how Nisman died, we will find out the reason behind his death.
But doesn’t that mean you’re contradicting what Judge Arroyo Salgado said during her press conference in March in which she assured that Nisman was killed?
Sandra is Nisman’s ex-wife and the mother of his two daughters. The general mood in March was different from what we see today. Our forensic experts have the same opinion. If you look at the photograph of a man who is dead of a gunshot wound to the head inside a bathroom, you could believe he committed suicide. But if you take into account what happened to his personal computer, his mobile phone the situation changes. The crime scene was also modified and I don’t really know what position his body was found. So I personally distance myself from the suicide theory. Nisman’s daughter said during the AMIA anniversary that she wanted to know the truth, so we are not discarding any hypothesis.
And what is your general opinion of the investigation that prosecutor Fein is leading?
Less than two months ago when we took charge of the legal representation of Arroyo Salgado and her two daughters, the prosecutor told us that 80 percent of the probe was ready, but that was not true. I had the feeling that the case was about to be closed.
Sources said that there are a few forensic tests pending such as the analysis of the gun that was carried out in Salta province and the analysis of Nisman’s electronic devices …
I have no information about the gun test. Nothing is conclusive. In the first test, no gunpowder was found on Nisman’s hand. What will happen if it is found now? We don’t have the tests on the electronic devices yet and we have called on the prosecutor to carry out 46 separate moves to clarify the situation. This will not be over by October. I think she will not be able to close the case during this electoral year. This investigation is also likely to remain open next year. There are several witnesses who still have to be questioned and there are some depositions that have been incorrectly collected.
In March, when Arroyo Salgado sat down with Fein to report the existence of an undeclared account in Merrill Lynch, reports indicated that there could be economic reasons behind Nisman’s death. Is that still seen as a possibility?
I cannot confirm anything. I want a serious investigation and to analyze the big picture.
But there was speculation that the account was what caused friction between Arroyo Salgado and Nisman’s mother, Sara Garfunkel …
It’s possible that Nisman’s death has nothing to do with the undeclared money. My clients, Arroyo Salgado and her two daughters, are not implicated in the case that is being pursued by (Rodolfo) Canicoba Corral (on money laundering). They have not even included this issue in the estate. It is part of Nisman’s private life. Don’t forget that Arroyo Salgado and Nisman had been separated for years.
But isn’t it true that Arroyo Salgado and Garfunkel have contradictory interests?
In the investigation into the death of Nisman, there are no contradictory interests. We cannot think that Sara Garfunkel wanted her son dead. There can be contradictory interests in the alleged money-laundering case, but Arroyo Salgado is not a party in that case.
What do you think of the Buenos Aires City Appeals Court ruling that confirmed Fein as the lead investigator in the case?
That is innacurate. Fein was not confirmed. Two judges rejected the appeals request we filed and another backed our petition. The magistrates made it clear Judge Fabiana Palmaghini can take charge of the investigation whenever she wants. No one backs the way Fein is leading the probe. It was not a bad ruling for us.
But do you think that Palmaghini could provide guarantees that your views will get a better reception?
Fabiana Palmaghini is the only guarantee this case has. She is a reliable judge and a strong woman.
The same can be said about Fein, right? No one could say that she is part of the internal rifts of the secret services, for instance.
If I had evidence of a crime, I would file a complaint. Fein has worked hard, but this case has proven to be too much for her. I’m not satisfied with her performance.
There were also reports that claimed Arroyo Salgado wanted the case to be sent to a federal court. Was that her intention?
No. She never discussed that with us.
Do you still believe that IT expert Diego Lagomarsino had close ties to the secret services?
I’m only interested in facts. Some media outlets report that we are accusing Lagomarsino, but that is not right. So far he is only a witness in the case.
But Arroyo Salgado, at least before you came on board, linked him to Nisman’s death …
He is linked, in fact. According to his own words, he lent Nisman the gun that killed him. But let’s make it clear. I have not filed any accusation against him for Nisman’s death.
@lucianabertoia
