During a trip to Miami, Sebastián Eskenazi received a subpoena for the expropriation of YPF

Sebastian eskenazi, the CEO of the Petersen Group, was at Miami Airport (United States) on February 11. It was a stopover before boarding another flight. Fund lawyers Burford -which pleads against Argentina for the expropriation of YPF in 2012- they returned declare to the United States justice.

According to a brief presented by Petersen Energía (a company owned by the Eskenazi family, but whose legal rights are exercised by the Burford Fund), they ordered him to appear in US courts in two ways: on February 26, he must hand in documents and on March 1, you must give oral testimony.

“The plaintiffs (Petersen Energía and Eton) went to the trouble of notifying in person the main Eskenazi witness (Sebastián Eskenazi) by ordering him to appear in court (…) while he was surrendering to the United States from Argentina ”, they express.

“We have done this so that we can bring the part of the investigation that concerns him under the supervision of the (New York) court, so that there can be no discussion of the plaintiffs’ interest in obtaining the evidence.”, say the lawyers. “Placing Mr. Eskenazi under the order to testify assures us that the defendants (north of R: Argentina and YPF) obtain the investigative evidence that the Court deems necessary”, they assure.

Spokesmen for the Eskenazi group were consulted, but did not respond Bugle.

Through the same process of “discovery” (discovery of evidence), the parties are empowered to summon witnesses they deem necessary. Petersen – represented by Burford – quotes Eskenazi. Argentina and YPF (the counterparty) do not oppose this request. On the contrary, Argentina and YPF asked Eskenazi. If neither party raises the opposition of the other, the litigants or the defenders can summon witnesses, who can prove their importance in the case. In this case, Petersen (of which Burford has the rights) is entitled to quote Eskenazi.

Eskenazi had already been summoned to testify by Loretta Preska, the judge of the court of the southern district of New York, which is treating this case which could represent an expenditure of between 2.5 and 14 billion dollars for Argentina.

The funds complaining against Argentina want to show they are doing everything to get Eskenazi to declare, which is Argentina’s claim. In addition, they report an alleged complicity of former Argentine government authorities in the activities that the Eskenazi now want to investigate at YPF between 2008 and 2012. They appoint the former president there. Nestor kirchner and the former Minister of Planning and Public Works, Julio De Vido like the political contacts of the Eskenazi family.

Until now, the Argentinian defense was the one that had requested Eskenazi’s testimony, which the judge had validated. But now it’s Petersen herself (following the legal strategy of the Burford Fund) who also demands this declaration. This is one way of trying to show the judge in the case that you want to cooperate in obtaining evidence.

Spokesmen for the Eskenazi family reiterated that this family had no connection with this trial. But Petersen Energy, in the presentation of Thursday at night he maintains the opposite. “Sebastián Eskenazi has already responded with” letters rogatory “(letters of exchange where the American justice requests the collaboration of the Argentine government)”said his presentation.

Petersen Energía and Eton – who are complaining against Argentina – say they did “Ongoing efforts to obtain the ‘discovery’ (progress of the investigation) through Steven Reisberg (lawyer for the Eskenazi family in the United States)”. “Reisberg has stated that his clients are willing to cooperate voluntarily in the provision of documents and testimony. But he proved unable to bring his clients to the jurisdiction of the court (of the United States). “, handles presentation.

The complainant’s funds are requesting an extension of the trial period for the investigation. “We respectfully request that mr. Reisberg (the lawyer for the Eskenazi family) will appear at a conference on February 18 to address the court on the status of the investigation into his clients “, they express.

The day after the December 22 order – the first time Preska ordered the Eskenazi to testify – the parties (plaintiffs, defendants, Eskenazi’s lawyer) held a meeting.

“This was followed by an extensive exchange of emails and letters in which the plaintiffs repeatedly encouraged the Eskenazi to cooperate and agreed to pay a reasonable cost for an intermediary (‘seller’) to help them prepare. documents, ”they add. complainants.