However, the legal proceedings in the so-called “AGT Case” were marred by controversy, as defense lawyers walked out of the courtroom in protest against what they consider serious violations of due process.

Known by this name for the acronym of the General Tax Administration, the entity at the center of a fraudulent value-added tax (VAT) refund scheme, the prosecution accuses the participants of unauthorized access to an information system, computer fraud, criminal conspiracy, and embezzlement.

The investigations revealed a network of employees in various roles who, taking advantage of their positions, carried out fraudulent operations to evade taxes, falsify documents, and launder money.

According to the case file, the companies involved in this scheme created fictitious invoicing networks and manipulated tax returns; they benefited from alterations to the Integrated Tax Management System, thereby reducing their taxes.

They were also involved in the irregular issuance of payment receipts and improper Value Added Tax refunds, among other practices.

Despite the seriousness of the crimes, the defense attorneys believe the judicial system is violating the defendants’ rights and demanded that the court make the case file available to all legal professionals, not just the Public Prosecutor’s Office.

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