The International Press Institute (IPI), the global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists, is deeply concerned about the recent raid on the headquarters of the daily newspaper La Nación, in which accounting books and shareholder information were seized by the authorities.

According to information before IPI, federal judge María Romilda Servini de Cubría ordered the seizure of the financial documents after a complaint was brought forward by an unknown individual. The complaint was based on a November 2002 article, published in the weekly El Guardían, which accused La Nación of tax evasion and money laundering

Judge Servini de Cubría ordered the Financial Investigation Unit (UIF) to conduct the surprise raid on the Buenos Aires offices of La Nación, which took place at 10.30 a.m. on 28 May. An officer of the Fraud Unit of the federal police was also present. Staff members of La Nación handed over all relevant material.

Commenting on the case, Jorge E. Fascetto, Chairman of IPI, said, “This extreme measure was unnecessary, as the information could have been easily obtained by other means. Moreover, we understand there had been no previous order by the judiciary for La Nación to hand over this type of documentation.”

“IPI urges the judicial powers to do everything in their power to ensure that due process of the law be undertaken and that the case is resolved with the utmost speed in order to avoid any suspicions that political or personal motivations may be at play,” Fascetto said.