The former bodyguard of late football legend Diego Maradona was arrested Tuesday for perjury during the trial of seven healthcare professionals accused of negligence in his care.
Julio Coria was taken into custody at a court in San Isidro after the judge ruled he had lied under oath, an AFP reporter witnessed.
Prosecutors argued Coria falsely claimed he never communicated with Maradona’s personal physician, Leopoldo Luque.
However, investigators uncovered multiple messages between them before and after Maradona’s death.
Maradona passed away on November 25, 2020, at age 60, while recovering at home from brain surgery.
His death was attributed to heart failure and acute pulmonary edema, occurring just two weeks after the operation.
The seven medical professionals on trial, including Luque, face charges of “homicide with possible intent.”
Prosecutors have described their handling of Maradona’s final days as a “horror theater,” arguing that their negligence contributed to his death.
If convicted, they face sentences ranging from eight to 25 years.
Coria, who performed mouth-to-mouth resuscitation on Maradona before paramedics arrived, was charged with perjury.
His arrest adds another dramatic turn to a case that continues to unfold with high stakes for those accused.