Prosecutor Requests Sweeping Evidence Measures
Federal prosecutor Gerardo Pollicita has initiated an investigation into suspected illicit enrichment by Claudio 'Chiqui' Tapia, focusing on his role as a public official and president of CEAMSE. Pollicita asked federal judge Ariel Lijo to authorize a series of evidence measures concerning Tapia's assets. The request includes reports on sworn statements Tapia filed as a public official for his CEAMSE position, as well as details on properties, bank accounts, and spending levels, according to judicial sources cited by Infobae. The case landed with Lijo after a jurisdictional dispute between courts was resolved this week by the Federal Chamber in Buenos Aires.[S1]
The prosecutor also requested that the judge lift banking and tax secrecy for Tapia, along with capital-market secrecy and the confidentiality obligation applicable to the Financial Information Unit. In total, Pollicita asked for 20 evidence measures, after which a patrimonial, economic, and financial analysis would trace the evolution of Tapia's assets, funds, and relevant connections. As part of advancing the case, Pollicita sought a request to CEAMSE for Tapia's personnel file to be sent to Comodoro Py 2002, and asked the National Directorate of Migration for data on his departures from the country.[S1]
Tapia's Dual Roles and the Complaint
Tapia also serves as president of the Argentine Football Association (AFA), an unpaid position that is not part of this investigation. He joined the CEAMSE board between 2016 and 2025, serving as vice president representing the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires until 2024 and as president representing the Province of Buenos Aires starting in January 2025, according to the complaint. The prosecution included among its proposed measures a request for an international letter rogatory to the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL), headquartered in Asunción, Paraguay, seeking copies of Tapia's personnel file and information on the positions he held and his compensation.[S1]
The request also asked CONMEBOL to detail amounts paid under any concept, identification of positions held, periods of service, bank accounts where funds were credited, copies of sworn statements if available, appointment resolutions for each period, and any other employment records. The prosecutor further suggested asking the confederation whether Tapia holds or has held directive, elective, or any other positions at FIFA, and if so, to specify dates, capacity, whom he represents or represented, whether he receives or received income for that activity, and to provide all related information, according to the instruction request given to Judge Lijo.[S1]
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Tapia is already prosecuted in another criminal case for alleged improper withholding of contributions by the AFA, estimated at 19 billion pesos. That investigation, before economic criminal judge Diego Amarante, has a firm second-instance ruling from the chamber of that jurisdiction, and he could be sent to oral trial. The illicit enrichment complaint was filed on April 7 by businessman Guillermo Tofoni, who claims Tapia increased his wealth unjustifiably by 1,000% in eight years. CEAMSE is an interjurisdictional public company that manages urban solid waste for the Buenos Aires metropolitan area and administers the Camino del Buen Ayre toll road. According to the complaint, Tapia declared annual income of 100,233,144 pesos for 15 hours of weekly work at the entity.[S1][S2]
The Role of Businessman Guillermo Tofoni
Guillermo Tofoni, owner of World Eleven, filed the complaint that originated this case. His company held a contract with the AFA for years to organize friendly matches for the Argentine national team, a relationship terminated during Tapia's leadership. Tofoni subsequently filed various complaints against AFA officials. In this instance, he accused Tapia of illicit enrichment based on his CEAMSE role, not his AFA position. Tapia has been part of CEAMSE since 2014, first as vice president and, since 2024, as president, according to A24.[S2]
Tofoni analyzed Tapia's sworn asset declarations and asserted that between 2017 and 2024 his liquidity grew by approximately 1,000%. According to the complaint, Tapia went from declaring four properties, one vehicle, and about 1.5 million pesos in 2017 to reporting over 1,002 million pesos in bank deposits, more than 39 million pesos in cash, and US$246,206 in a savings account in 2024, based on declared valuations. Tofoni submitted his economic and asset analysis to the courts so that the head of CEAMSE and the AFA would explain whether it matches his declared legal income. Initially, a city court declared itself incompetent, moving the case to federal jurisdiction, where it gained new momentum.[S2]
The federal case fell to Judge Ariel Lijo, who in another case involving AFA contracts and national team matches had dismissed Tofoni, the businessman now denouncing Tapia. Prosecutor Gerardo Pollicita requested a series of measures aimed at determining the origin and evolution of Tapia's assets. These include access to sworn statements, tax and banking information, accounts, properties, and other asset movements. The prosecutor also seeks to know his income and expenses to establish whether there is a difference that cannot be explained by his declared activities. The AFA is outside the case but within the investigation, as the prosecutor wants more data on the AFA president with the same goal: a complete report on Tapia's asset evolution and any possible illicit conduct.[S2]
