Ex-ANMAT officials freed after paying $150 million bail

Two former Argentine health regulators were released from custody on Friday after posting bail of 150 million pesos in the case over contaminated fentanyl that killed at least 90 people. Nélida Agustina Bisio, former head of the ANMAT, and Gabriela Mantecón Fumadó, former director of the INAME, were detained on Tuesday and indicted on charges of crimes against public health, with potential sentences of up to 25 years Source: Clarín Source: El País.

The charges

The prosecution alleges that the two officials knew of the laboratories' history of non-compliance and irregularities in good manufacturing practices, yet failed to act, allowing contaminated fentanyl to reach hospitals. The fiscal's office described a "manto de cobertura estatal" (state cover-up) that enabled the labs to operate under poor quality conditions Source: La Voz. The contaminated fentanyl, produced by HLB Pharma and distributed by Laboratorios Ramallo, was linked to 90 deaths and at least 41 injuries Source: Infobae.

The release conditions

Bisio was released after paying a bail of 75 million pesos, with restrictions including a ban on leaving the country and a prohibition on contacting former colleagues. Mantecón Fumadó also paid bail and was released, but must surrender her travel documents and report periodically to the court Source: Clarín. The judge applied the principle of proportionality, noting that detention is the last resort Source: Infobae.

Discrepancies

Sources differ on the bail amount: Clarín reports 150 million pesos for both, while Infobae states Bisio's bail was 75 million pesos. Additionally, Infobae initially reported that Mantecón Fumadó remained detained, but later articles indicate she was also released Source: Clarín Source: Infobae.