Argentine Prosecutors seek 12-year Sentence for VP
Newslooks- BUENOS AIRES (AP)
Prosecutors asked a judge to sentence Argentine Vice President Cristina Fernández to 12 years in prison and bar her from holding public office for life for allegedly leading a criminal conspiracy that irregularly awarded public works contracts to a friend and ally.
A man who is against Argentine Vice President Cristina Fernandez stands with a sign that reads in Spanish “God may forgive, but the Fatherland does not!” outside Fernandez’s home in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Monday, Aug. 22, 2022. Prosecutors asked a judge to sentence Fernández to 12 years in prison and bar her from holding public office for life for allegedly leading a criminal conspiracy that irregularly awarded public works contracts to a friend and ally. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
“We are faced with the biggest corruption maneuver that this country has ever known,” prosecutor Diego Luciani said in his closing arguments in the trial of Fernández, who was president of Argentina from 2007 and 2015, before becoming vice president in 2019.
A woman who is against Argentine Vice President Cristina Fernandez holds a picture of prosecutor Diego Luciani outside Cristina Fernandez’s home in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Monday, Aug. 22, 2022, Prosecutors asked a judge to sentence Fernández to 12 years in prison and bar her from holding public office for life for allegedly leading a criminal conspiracy that irregularly awarded public works contracts to a friend and ally. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
The alleged fraud against the state cost the country’s coffers around $1 billion, Luciani said.
The former president has vehemently denied charges against her in the three-year trial and has said the judges already have the sentence against her “written and even signed.”
Police in riot gear take position outside the home of Vice President Cristina Fernandez during confrontations with her supporters in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Monday, Aug. 22, 2022, Prosecutors asked a judge to sentence Fernández to 12 years in prison and bar her from holding public office for life for allegedly leading a criminal conspiracy that irregularly awarded public works contracts to a friend and ally. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
Fernández has characterized the trial as an effort to use the courts to stop her from ever holding elected office again and her allies have characterized it as a political prosecution.
A man who is against Argentine Vice President Cristina Fernandez shouts at her supporters as police keep both groups apart outside Fernandez’s home in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Monday, Aug. 22, 2022. Prosecutors asked a judge to sentence Fernández to 12 years in prison and bar her from holding public office for life for allegedly leading a criminal conspiracy that irregularly awarded public works contracts to a friend and ally. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
The presidential office came out in support of Fernández, saying she is the victim of a “persecution by the courts and media.”
Current President Alberto Fernández also expressed “solidarity” with his number two in a social media post.
A woman wearing prison garb who is against Argentine Vice President Cristina Fernandez holds a sign that reads in Spanish “History will not absolve you,” outside Fernandez’s home in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Monday, Aug. 22, 2022. Prosecutors asked a judge to sentence Fernández to 12 years in prison and bar her from holding public office for life for allegedly leading a criminal conspiracy that irregularly awarded public works contracts to a friend and ally. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
Luciani told judges they will have the final say on whether “corruption or justice” prevails.
Although Fernández has faced numerous accusations of corruption for events that took place while she was in office, this marks the first time a trial against the former president has gotten this far to include a prosecutor formally requesting a sentence.
Supporters of Argentine Vice President Cristina Fernandez gather outside Fernandez’s home in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Monday, Aug. 22, 2022. Prosecutors asked a judge to sentence Fernández to 12 years in prison and bar her from holding public office for life for allegedly leading a criminal conspiracy that irregularly awarded public works contracts to a friend and ally. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
Fernández, 69, is accused of leading a conspiracy that involved awarding 51 public works contracts for roadworks to Lázaro Báez in southern Santa Cruz province. Many of those public works were never finished.
A supporter of Argentine Vice President Cristina Fernandez holds a banner with her picture, outside Fernandez’s home in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Monday, Aug. 22, 2022. Prosecutors asked a judge to sentence Fernández to 12 years in prison and bar her from holding public office for life for allegedly leading a criminal conspiracy that irregularly awarded public works contracts to a friend and ally. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
Prosecutors say Báez, a former bank employee who went on to become a public works mogul, created the company Austral Construcciones as a way to win state tenders.
An additional 12 people are also indicted in the case, including Báez and Julio De Vido, the minister who was in charge of public works during Fernández’s administration.
A sentence is expected by the end of the year and could be appealed.
