Argentinian Dairy Giant SanCor Under Investigation for Pension Fund Misuse

The Federal Justice system in Argentina is currently investigating former officials of SanCor, one of the country's largest dairy cooperatives, for failing to deposit mandatory pension and health insurance contributions, totaling over $1.6 billion. The inquiry centers on accusations that SanCor withheld but did not remit these contributions from February 2020 to January 2024. The Federal Prosecutor's Office in Rafaela has called for former SanCor presidents José Pablo Gastaldi and Alberto Eduardo Sánchez to provide statements concerning alleged misappropriation of social security funds, as defined under Article 7 of Law 27.430.

The complaints were initially lodged by employees from the Sunchales and Don Torcuato plants, highlighting the prolonged non-payment of these contributions. Prosecutor Jorge Gustavo Onel has indicated sufficient evidence implicating the executives, who were responsible for the cooperative's financial and administrative decisions during their respective tenures. Gastaldi led SanCor from 2020 to 2022, followed by Sánchez from 2022 to 2024. They now face legal challenges over 32 instances of alleged fund retention without appropriate deposits. This case, labeled "SanCor Cooperativas Unidas Limitada s/ Infracción Ley 27.430" (COIRÓN 54424/2024), is being processed in the Federal Court of Rafaela.