BUENOS‍ AIRES, Argentina — Julio Cesar Coria, the former bodyguard of the late ⁢Argentine soccer star ‍Diego Armando Maradona, was arrested tuesday for allegedly providing false testimony during ⁣the trial of seven health workers charged⁢ in connection with Maradona’s death.

Prosecutor Patricio Ferrari told ⁢the court, The witness is ‍being eloquently untruthful.

According to the Prosecutor’s Office, and later ratified by the judges, Coria is accused of ⁤perjury ⁣for making statements that contradicted evidence gathered during⁤ the investigation.

The primary⁢ contradiction involves Coria’s relationship with Leopoldo Luque, Maradona’s neurosurgeon, whom Coria claimed‍ he had no connection with, stating he had never spoken to him, either during Maradona’s admission to home care ⁤or afterward.

Though, evidence presented in court on Tuesday, including numerous texts and chats between the two, ⁣revealed that the ⁣bodyguard and the doctor had frequent conversations‍ and were, actually, friends.

In one message, Coria wrote to Luque:⁤ How are ⁢you, friend? Let‍ me know if you need anything.

When ‍questioned about this, Coria reportedly told the judges, I ‍do⁤ not⁣ remember speaking with him. I sincerely don’t remember.

Other inconsistencies in Coria’s testimony concerned the individuals who attempted to revive Maradona at his home when he was found unresponsive.

Fernando Burlando, the lawyer representing two of Maradona’s daughters, requested the extraction of testimonies to give intervention to the Fiscal Unit for Research and demanded Coria’s immediate detention for the crime of false testimony.

The judges granted the request, and Coria was removed from the courtroom.

also testifying on Tuesday were Andrea⁣ Flavia Jordan, the real estate agent who managed the rental of the house where Maradona was receiving medical care; Santiago Giorello, the owner of the property; and Jana Maradona, one of Maradona’s daughters, who is a complainant and witness in the case.

Maradona died at the age of 60 on Nov. 25, 2020. A forensic ⁤report from the Prosecutor’s Office indicated⁤ that he suffered from serious liver, cardiac, and pulmonary issues at the time of his death.

Neurosurgeon Leopoldo Luque, psychiatrist Agustina Cosachov, psychoanalyst Carlos Díaz, Dr. Nancy Forlini (a coordinator for Swiss Medical), Dr. Pedro Di Spagna, nursing coordinator Mariano Perroni, and nurse Ricardo Almirón are all on trial.

Nurse Gisela Madrid, who requested a jury trial, will be tried separately in the second half of 2025, after the main trial concludes.

Judges Maximiliano Savarino, Verónica Di Tommaso, and Julieta Makintach will determine whether seven of the eight defendants are guilty of simple homicide with eventual intent, which carries a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison.