Angelina Abbona
Angelina María Esther Abbona | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 8, 1951 San Rafael, Mendoza, Argentina |
| Occupation(s) | Legal professional, prosecutor |
| Years active | 1983–2015 |
| Known for | National Treasury Attorney of Argentina (2011–2015) |
Angelina María Esther Abbona (born 8 November 1951) is an Argentine legal professional who held the position of National Treasury Attorney from 2011 until 2015, during the presidency of Cristina Fernández de Kirchner.
Biography
Originating from San Rafael, Mendoza, Abbona pursued her legal studies at the National University of Córdoba in the 1970s. During this period, she was involved with a Marxist–Leninist Communist student organization affiliated with the Maoist Revolutionary Communist Party. It was there that she met Carlos Zannini, a fellow student from Córdoba. She completed her law degree in 1976.
In 1977, to avoid persecution under the military regime, Abbona and her spouse Enrique Mengarelli moved to Río Gallegos, Santa Cruz. Zannini eventually joined them in this relocation. Abbona practiced law locally and, through her connection with Zannini, established ties with Néstor Kirchner, who appointed her as state prosecutor upon assuming the governorship of Santa Cruz. She maintained this role for eight years.
Her collaboration with Minister Alicia Kirchner facilitated her appointment as internal auditor at the Ministry of Social Development in 2004. Subsequently, in 2007, Governor Daniel Peralta designated her as president of the Court of Accounts for Santa Cruz.
On 22 December 2010, Abbona was named ad honórem as Argentina’s National Treasury Attorney, succeeding Joaquín Pedro da Rocha. This cabinet-level position reports directly to the president. She became the first woman to occupy this office when officially confirmed by decree on 10 December 2011.
Throughout her term, Abbona spearheaded notable cases such as Expediente 36.549/2012 – HSBC Bank Argentina and launched probes into irregularities concerning property sales linked to the . Additionally, she lodged accusations against Federal Judge Luis Antonio Armella for conflicts of interest connected to contracts related to cleanup efforts in the Matanza River basin.
Abbona initiated legal proceedings against US hedge fund Burford Capital and Spanish firm Grupo Marsans—previous operators of Aerolíneas Argentinas and Austral—for alleged procedural fraud and mismanagement that contributed to the airlines’ financial collapse. Working alongside Prosecutor Carlos Gonella, she filed criminal charges against Marsans' proprietors for tax evasion and fraudulent activities tied to their acquisition and management of Aerolíneas Argentinas. She also submitted claims before the International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), seeking reparations on behalf of Argentina.
These initiatives highlighted Abbona’s dedication to safeguarding public assets and fighting economic wrongdoing during her leadership at the National Treasury Attorney’s Office.
Prosecution for coverup
In 2016, federal judge Luis Rodríguez prosecuted Abbona for neglecting to report crimes ex officio and obstructing investigations related to Grupo Marsans’ dismantling of Aerolíneas Argentinas. He ordered a freeze on assets totaling one million Argentine pesos (approximately US$100,000 in 2016). This decision was upheld by Chamber Two of the federal judiciary in October 2017.
Positions held
- Legal advisor, National Highway Directorate, Santa Cruz district
- 1983–1985: Legal advisor, Undersecretariat of Commerce, Mining, and Maritime Interests, Ministry of Economy and Public Works, Santa Cruz Province
- 1987–1991: Legal advisor, Municipality of Río Gallegos
- 1991–1992: Head of Administrative Department, Legal Area, Public Services Society of Santa Cruz Province
- 1992–1995: Manager, Public Services Society of Santa Cruz Province
- 1995–2003: State prosecutor, Santa Cruz Province
- 2003–2007: Internal auditor, Ministry of Social Development
- 2007–2010: President, Honorable Court of Accounts, Santa Cruz Province
- 2011–2015: National Treasury Attorney of Argentina
References
- Pages with script errors
- Articles with short description
- Articles with hCards
- No local image but image on Wikidata
- 1951 births
- Argentine communists
- 21st-century Argentine politicians
- 21st-century Argentine women politicians
- Living people
- 20th-century Argentine lawyers
- 21st-century Argentine lawyers
- National University of Córdoba alumni
- People from Mendoza, Argentina
- 20th-century Argentine women lawyers
- 21st-century Argentine women lawyers