Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, Argentina’s current vice president and former president faces up to 12 years in prison if found guilty in a public works corruption case. Prosecutor Diego Luciani charged CFK on Monday, August 22, 2022, with allegedly defrauding the state and participating in a scheme involving the diversion of public money during her two years as president between 2007 and 2015. Luciani called the case “the biggest corruption maneuver in of the history of the country”, and he also requested from the court a “special lifelong disqualification”, which would prohibit Kirchner from performing public duties for the rest of his life.
Since her testimony in court in 2019, CFK has continued to deny the claims. Shortly after the last session, the vice president claimed on Twitter that she was facing a “media and legal firing squad” and not a constitutional court. She further stated that the prosecution violated the “open concept of defense in court” by accusing her of crimes she had never been accused of before.
Si algo faltaba para confirmar que no estoy ante un tribunal de la Constitución, sino ante un pelotón de fusilamiento mediático-judicial, es impedirme el ejercicio del derecho de defense ante questions…
— Cristina Kirchner (@CFKArgentina) August 22, 2022
Que nunca figuraron en el acto de accusación del fiscal al que asistí durante 5 días en Mayo de 2019. Por ello mañana a las 11hs, a través de mis redes voy demosare, justamente, por qué me están prohibiendo hablar en el juicio después del obsceno guión que montaron los fiscales.
— Cristina Kirchner (@CFKArgentina) August 22, 2022
Investigation of the allegations made against Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner
Argentina’s Vice President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner is on trial with 12 other people for alleged ‘fraud of the state’ and ‘diversion of public money during her 2007-2015 presidential term.’ The trial began in 2019 as part of an investigation into whether CFK and its staff favored the companies of businessman Lazaro Baez for dozens of public projects in the southern region of Patagonia. Most of those projects, most of which belonged to Baez, later turned out to be unfinished or had expensive bids. Baez, who was loyal to the Kirchner family, was eventually convicted of corruption.
During Monday’s hearing, prosecutor Diego Luciani said the state had become the ultimate victim of the officials’ alleged crimes. Luciani regretted:
“At least 12 people participated in the fraud.” Only the coordinated action of all competent authorities, in cooperation with Lazaro Baez, enabled the success of the maneuver. These wrongdoings have damaged the country.”
The prosecutor subsequently accused CFK of “prioritizing personal advantage over the public interest” and “deceiving society” by using her political position. He stated:
“Cristina Fernandez [de Kircher] she had the highest position and used her abilities and authority to maximize the benefit of this maneuver.”
The plan was called “systematic acts of corruption” by Luciani, who said it was “sponsored and supported by the country’s top political leaders.” He further said that the program “washed away all public procurement standards” and significantly damaged “state finances”. The prosecutor further accused Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner of being the “leader” of an “illegal organization” and of running the procedure to guarantee that Baez won public works tenders.
Prosecutor Sergio Mola went on to say that CFK could not have been uninformed about the fraudulent activities that took place during its mandate. Mola continued:
“There were constant anomalies in 51 tenders over a period of 12 years.” Photographic evidence definitely reveals illegal maneuvers. It’s hard to believe in Cristina Fernandez [de Kirchner] she was not aware of anything in her office.”
After the hearing, CFK took to Twitter to claim that the prosecution violated the “principle of defense” by raising concerns that had never been raised before. Her tweet stated:
“[The prosecution] introduced questions into their indictment that were never asked in flagrant violation of the concept of a defense at trial.”
CFK’s lawyer, Gregorio Dalbon, rejected the vice president’s accusations and said the defense was seeking “the right to a valid defense at trial.” He stated:
“Prosecutors Luciani and Mola go beyond the rule of law and create a media narrative so that society thinks Cristina Fernández de Kirchner was the leader of an illegal public works management group.”
The former president also said that she was never given the opportunity to testify about the new aspects involved in the case and that she will continue to defend herself on social media. Given that there are 13 suspects in the dock, and the prosecution has completed the evidence procedure, the defense will now have 10 working days to present evidence. A verdict in the case is expected by the end of the year, although Kirchner is expected to appeal if a final verdict is handed down against her. In order for the vice president’s sentence to be carried out, the verdict must be confirmed by the Supreme Court. Meanwhile, even if she is convicted, CFK will be able to run for president in 2023.
Categories: Entertaintment
Source: HIS Education