They dismiss an action for annulment and Marcelo Balcedo will be tried in Uruguay

Uruguayan justice dismissed on Tuesday the appeal for annulment submitted by the trade unionist Marcelo Balcedo and his wife, Paola Fiege in the context of the cause that studies them of course money laundering, smuggling and trafficking of armsand why both They were arrested in January 2018 at their home in Punta del Este.

This decision was taken by the 4th Court of Appeals in charge of the magistrate María Helena Mainard, who decided not to give way to the appeal based on the principle of non bis in idemwhich means that No one can be tried twice for the same crime.

In his speech, the couple's lawyer Marcelo Domínguez, he argued that as a judge Ernesto Kreplak In January 2018 requested the extradition of the accused for the purpose of money laundering prosecution in Argentina, the Uruguayan courts violated this principle.

"Neither Balcedo nor I steal anything, we live a nightmare," says the trade unionist's wife

According to the Uruguayan portal L & # 39; Observer, the judge had already dismissed the appeal several months ago, but as it had been introduced before the time – the prosecution had not yet occurred – it allowed the 39, call to be introduced again.

At the hearing, Justice Mainard agreed with the prosecutor, Schubert Velázquezwho argued that the principle of non bis in idem it is only designed when the accused has received an "enforceable sentence" before another criminal proceeding is opened, which, in his opinion, has not occurred.

They find a new mansion of Marcelo Balcedo in Uruguay

In this line, Mainard considered As a basic requirement that one of the processes had already been completed, he decided to continue the legal process against Balcedo and Fiege in Uruguay.

The former Union of Workers and Employees of Minorities and Education (Soeme) and his wife are accused of crimes of money laundering, smuggling and international firearms trafficking. The Uruguayan prosecutor's office in charge of the investigation has asked Balcedo to serve eleven years in prison and ten years in prison for Fiege. At the same time, the two men are also accused of money laundering and economic crimes in Argentina, whose investigation is led by Judge Ernesto Kreplak.

In the raid on his hotel in Playa Verde, Punta del Este, They found several weapons – rifles and revolvers – with ammunition, luxury cars – a Ferrari, a Mercedes Benz, a Porsche and a Chevrolet Camaro – as well as jewelry.

M.S./D.S.