Scams with prefabricated homes: new victims are added

In a period of no more than 30 days, Segovia must present a proposal for compensation to the – so far – 11 families who have been victims of scams with the construction of prefabricated homes. In the last hours, new victims were added.

In dialogue with AIR, Ignacio Chigal, lawyer for the affected families, expressed his indignation: “The prosecutor (Federico Grimberg) should have requested preventive detention. It was the judge who had to decide, but The prosecutor stated that the conditions were not met according to two of the sections of the province’s criminal procedure code, which is why he maintained that ‘he had to be released‘”.

Chigal noted that with the number of victims and families who have been contacted recently, The scam exceeds 300 million pesos. One of the victims even gave a vehicle as part of the payment.

There are already more than 11 families scammed

Ignacio Chigal pointed out that there was a prior agreement between the defense of the accused and the prosecutor, which left the victims in a helpless situation: “The defense of the accused and the prosecutor who defended the victims previously agreed on what the situation would be. Imagine how the people are who were robbed, not only of their dreams, but also of their money.”

He also mentioned that he continues to receive complaints from new victims: “A family from Trelew called me because they had contracted with Néstor Gabriel Segovia to build a house for them in the Entre Ríos area near Puiggari. In addition, a man who had a serious work accident received compensation of 11 million pesos. Néstor Segovia took 11 million pesos from this disabled man in San Agustín”.

Chigal highlighted that when the defense was given the floor, it had no objection and agreed with what the prosecutor requested, taking into account the previous agreement they had reached. Chigal warned that, when trying to compensate the victims, the payment will be very low, therefore: “We are going for an exemplary sentence. “We are going to try to prove by all means that there was an illicit association.”

Lawyer Chigal also mentioned the involvement of Camila R., Néstor Gabriel Segovia’s partner. After the hearing, Camila R. was waiting to sign the necessary papers for Segovia to be released.

“She had to sign the papers because everything was already agreed upon. The precautionary measure they placed on her was two vehicles in her name, so on the 25th of that month, she is going to be charged for the same facts. As unsubtle as they were, they could have waited until today to quote her,” Chigal commented.

The statements of Mónica, one of the victims

Mónica, one of the complainants, assured AIR: “We are not going for economic reasons, we want justice. Until April 8, this character continued collecting fees from the people who paid for the homes.”

Mónica detailed how they began to be victims of the scam in 2022, when they paid 70% of the total value of a house in exchange for a turnkey delivery. After making payment, they were promised a shift to begin construction, but were informed in December that there were no shifts available. It was in February 2023 when she began gathering other affected people and realized that her situation was not unique.

One of the victims, Mónica commented, is the third company that has defrauded him, which highlights the lack of control and adequate supervision. She mentioned that they have asked her lawyer to revise the article in the province’s criminal procedure code to toughen penalties against these types of crimes, in the hope that real punishments will be imposed and others will be deterred from committing similar acts.

Furthermore, the victim expressed his disappointment with the judicial system: “We live it as a mockery. The prosecutor, instead of putting himself in the place of the victims, put himself in the place of Segovia.” Mónica continued: “We are outraged. We were abused by the prosecutor, by the judge. “Abused of our trust, of our faith in justice.”

And he added: “We choose to go on the side of justice, because I believe that they are there to do their job. We have to show that once and for all that a person cannot defraud more than 20 families and walk down the street living their life. normal”.

Monica concluded: “Prosecutors have to defend ordinary people. We are working people who have put in all their savings. Life Savings. “It’s not fair, but we’re going to move forward.”