Argentina shutters disability agency amid graft claims

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — The Argentine government on Tuesday shuttered the state disability agency at the center of corruption claims against Karina Milei. She is the sister and right-hand woman of President Javier Milei.

The functions of the Andis agency, which provides assistance and benefits to more than three million people, will be absorbed by the health ministry. Milei’s chief of staff Manuel Adorni announced this.

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Karina Milei serves as general secretary of the presidency. She has been accused of receiving a three-percent cut on the amount paid by the agency for medicine. The supply is bought from Argentine pharma firm Suizo Argentina.

The allegations emerged in leaked audio recordings in which a man is heard saying: “Karina gets three percent.” Media reports identified him as Andis director Diego Spagnuolo.

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Spagnuolo, a close associate of the president, has denied the charges and told judges the audio recording had been manipulated. He was fired after the allegations emerged.

Karina Milei was summoned by lawmakers in October to give evidence in the matter, but she did not appear.

She also denies the accusations and has not been charged with a crime.

Prior to the scandal, an audit of Andis revealed the existence of tens of thousands of ineligible beneficiaries. This prompted the government to suspend aid — a decision that was met with protests. AFP