A woman was arrested for the fire at Estancia Amancay and, after the investigation, she was sentenced to 60 days of preventive detention. The woman in question is Victoria Dolores Núñez Fernández, who will serve her sentence in Esquel.
Prosecutor María Bottini and the prosecutors of the Public Prosecutor’s Office, Cecilia Bagnato and Ismael Cerda, exposed in a hearing in recent hours regarding the incident under investigation.
The evidence gathered up to that point was also revealed. She is accused of setting fire to machinery and trucks at Estancia Amancay on January 18.
On Tuesday, several simultaneous raids were carried out in joint operations between the Chubut Police and the Federal Police. The accused was arrested in one of these operations.
Fire at Estancia Amancay: what happened
Between 12:30 and 1 in the morning, a group of at least three people arrived at Estancia Amancay in a white Renault Kangoo with a black roof rack, as described.
They parked near provincial route No. 71, with their lights on, about 300 meters from the estate’s sheds.
The hearing for the case.
Then, “using homemade incendiary devices, molotov cocktails, or other accelerants,” they set fire to nine vehicles.
Material damages
These included a Mercedes Benz motorhome, a Randon backhoe, a Scania 111 truck with a dump bed, a Mercedes Benz 1620 truck with a dump bed, an Iveco Stralis 360 truck with a linear box, a backhoe, and a mini backhoe.
Also affected were two high-density polyethylene anti-fire water tanks owned by the establishment’s owner, a Caterpillar 312 BL crawler excavator, and a New Holland 218 L mini loader.
The fire caused the “total destruction of these assets,” which were located a short distance from the other sheds, with significant economic losses.
“Endangering the other assets on the premises, machinery, sheds, residences, the environment, and the lives of two employees who were sleeping near the scene of the incident and woke up to the explosion,” explained Bagnato, a member of the Argentine Association of Prosecutors.
During Wednesday’s hearing, Bottini stated that there are indications pointing to her as a participant along with other individuals. Expert reports indicate that the attack was carried out simultaneously by at least three people on several vehicles parked in two areas separated by 100 meters.
She also mentioned the risk of flight. The woman’s lack of ties to the community, her multiple trips abroad in the last year and a half, the seriousness of the incident, the multiple participants, and the anticipated sentence, among other factors considered.
She also justified the risk of obstructing the legal process and explained why it is essential to impose preventive detention while investigative measures are being carried out.
Defense’s statement
The public defender, Valeria Ponce, opposed the measure. She argued that there is not enough evidence to indicate that Núñez was the author of the act.
She then announced that she would present exculpatory evidence to demonstrate that her vehicle was not at the scene on the day and time of the incident and to show where and with whom the accused was.
She also pointed out that the vehicle was used by others and was serving the community where she lives. She also stated that pending investigative measures could not be interfered with if the accused is released.
The hearing.
Finally, in case the judge decided to impose a coercive measure, she requested that it be house arrest and offered an address in Esquel.
On the other hand, the Prosecution opposed house arrest and the proposed address because it belonged to a woman connected to individuals linked to the investigation.
Judge’s decision
Judge Jorge Criado found the sufficient evidence of authorship required by the Criminal Procedure Code when formalizing the investigation.
He also mentioned the risk of obstruction and ruled out house arrest.
He then ordered pretrial detention for a period of 60 days. The measure will be carried out in a cell at the First Police Station of Esquel designated for women, unless the Defense requests transfer to the women’s prison in Trelew.
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