A contractor testified Tuesday that Argentine Chief of Staff Manuel Adorni paid US$245,000 [1] in cash for home renovations.
The testimony is central to an ongoing investigation into alleged corruption and illicit enrichment involving one of the highest-ranking officials in the administration.
Matías Tabar gave his testimony in federal court in Comodoro Py on May 5, 2026 [2]. Tabar said he received the payment to remodel a house located in the Indio Cuá private country club in the municipality of Exaltación de la Cruz, Buenos Aires Province [3].
According to the testimony, the renovations included the installation of a pool, a jacuzzi, and a garden cascade [4]. Tabar said the entire amount was paid in cash and that no invoices were issued for the work [1]. "Pagó todo en efectivo," Tabar said [1].
Reports regarding the property's ownership differ. Some sources state the house belongs to Adorni, while others report it is registered under the name of his wife, Bettina Angeletti [5, 6].
The case has drawn immediate attention from political analysts. Javier Feimann said, "Adorni está muy preocupado y lo bien que hace" [7].
The investigation seeks to determine the origin of the funds used for the luxury upgrades and whether the lack of documentation indicates an attempt to conceal illicit wealth [6].
“"Pagó todo en efectivo"”
The allegation that a top government official paid nearly a quarter-million dollars in cash without invoices suggests a potential breach of financial transparency laws. If proven, this testimony could provide the legal basis for formal charges of illicit enrichment, posing a significant political risk to the administration's image of fiscal discipline.
