Italo di Pascuale Acosta, the neurosurgeon involved in the tragic shooting of a tenant on Sunday, November 23, had joined the Army as an assimilated officer in 2006. His desire to pursue a postgraduate degree without meeting the necessary work requirements led to repeated acts of misconduct that resulted in charges of desertion.
Written by: La Tabla/Data Journalism Platform 26 NOV 2025
Legal documents released this week confirm that neurosurgeon Ítalo Di Pascuale Acosta, accused of fatally shooting a tenant during an eviction in Bello Monte, was charged in 2008 with the military crime of desertion, following a series of disciplinary violations as an assimilated officer in the Army.
📌 Repeated Attendance Issues
– Di Pascuale began his career in 2006 as a surgeon at the “Dr. Vicente Salias Sanoja” Military Hospital in Fuerte Tiuna.
– In 2007, he sought permission to enroll in a pediatric neurosurgery postgraduate program at the J.M. de los Ríos Hospital, neglecting the minimum service requirement of five years outlined in the Military Personnel Administration Manual.
– Despite official denial, he insisted on attending the postgraduate program, abandoning his duties at the military hospital.
📌 Disciplinary Measures and Contempt
– In December 2007, the director of the Military Hospital recommended his trial for desertion.
– A warrant for his arrest was issued and a military trial was initiated.
– Although granted provisional freedom, he disobeyed the terms, leading to its revocation.
📌 Family Defense and Administrative Resolution
– He was defended by his father, lawyer Ítalo Di Pascuale Díaz, and his mother, Altagracia Acosta de Di Pascuale.
– In 2009, the Supreme Court of Justice declared the annulment appeal irrelevant, after the Army Education Command officially granted him permission to pursue the postgraduate degree.
📌 Institutional Leniency
Despite his history of misconduct, disobedience, and contempt, Di Pascuale Acosta continued to practice medicine at the Military Hospital of Fuerte Tiuna, and was ultimately allowed to participate in the postgraduate program that he had initiated irregularly. Legal documents revealed this week confirm that the neurosurgeon Ítalo Di Pascuale Acosta, charged with the murder of a tenant during an eviction in Bello Monte, was accused in 2008 of the military crime of desertion, due to repeated disciplinary violations as an assimilated officer in the Army.
📌 Repeated Attendance Issues
– Di Pascuale began his career in 2006 as a surgeon at the “Dr. Vicente Salias Sanoja” Military Hospital in Fuerte Tiuna.
– In 2007, he sought permission to enroll in a pediatric neurosurgery postgraduate program at the J.M. de los Ríos Hospital, neglecting the minimum service requirement of five years outlined in the Military Personnel Administration Manual.
– Despite official denial, he insisted on attending the postgraduate program, abandoning his duties at the military hospital.
📌 Disciplinary Measures and Contempt
– In December 2007, the director of the Military Hospital recommended his trial for desertion.
– A warrant for his arrest was issued and a military trial was initiated.
– Although granted provisional freedom, he disobeyed the terms, leading to its revocation.
📌 Family Defense and Administrative Resolution
– He was defended by his father, lawyer Ítalo Di Pascuale Díaz, and his mother, Altagracia Acosta de Di Pascuale.
– In 2009, the Supreme Court of Justice declared the annulment appeal irrelevant, after the Army Education Command officially granted him permission to pursue the postgraduate degree.
📌 Institutional Leniency
Despite his history of misconduct, disobedience, and contempt, Di Pascuale Acosta continued to practice medicine at the Military Hospital of Fuerte Tiuna, and was ultimately allowed to participate in the postgraduate program that he had initiated irregularly.