Death of Argentine Prosecutor Alberto Nisman Ruled a Homicide

By Daniel Uria 

A federal judge charged IT security expert Diego Lagomarsino with accessory to murder in the death

of Argentine prosecutor Alberto Nisma on Tuesday. Photo by sebra/Shutterstock

UPI -- A federal judge in Argentina ruled the 2015 death of prosecutor Alberto Nisman was a homicide.

Judge Julian Ercolini charged IT security expert Diego Lagomarsino with accessory to murder on Tuesday as part of his 656-page ruling regarding the death of Nisman, marking the first time the incident was referred to as a murder.

"The death of Prosecutor Nisman was not a suicide, and was brought about by a third party and in a painful manner," Ercolini said in the ruling.

Ercolini said Nisman was killed with a weapon belonging to Lagomarsino, who was also the last person inside his apartment, where he was found dead from a gunshot wound to his head, on Jan. 18, 2015.

Lagomarsino previously admitted the bullet that killed Nisman came from a handgun he owned, but said Nisman asked to borrow the weapon after receiving threats against him and his daughters.

Lagomarsino said the courts should judge him for lending Nisman the gun if he "committed a crime" but said "I have nothing to do with the rest."

Nisman was killed days after he filed a report accusing former President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner and other officials of covering up Iran's involvement in a 1994 Jewish community center bombing that left 85 people dead and more than 300 injured.

Kirchner, 64, was charged with treason on Dec. 7 as part of an ongoing investigation into the bombing.

Ercolini said there were numerous events that caused public officials to "publicly push the idea of suicide" following Nisman's death, which created an "almost unambiguous public certainty that Nisman had taken his own life."

He added while he accused Lagomarsino of role in the homicide the actual perpetrators "remain unknown."

Ercolini also indicted four of Nisman's bodyguards -- Ruben Benitez, Nestor Duran, Armando Niz and Luis Mino -- accusing them of negligence and failing to detect when the shooting happened, which he said allowed the perpetrators to leave the scene undetected.

So they were either grossly incompetent, or complicit. 

Argentina Judge Issues Arrest Warrant for Former President Kirchner for 'Treason'

Corruption is Everywhere - Certainly in de Kirchner's Argentina

By Daniel Uria

A judge in Argentina issued an arrest warrant for former president, Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, accusing her of treason. Photo by Stefano Spaziani/UPI | License Photo

UPI -- A judge in Argentina issued a warrant for the arrest of former president Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner on Thursday on charges of treason.

Judge Claudio Bonadio accused Kirchner, 64, of seeking to negotiate a deal with Iran to obtain trade concessions in exchange for covering up Tehran's role in a 1994 terror attack on the AMIA Jewish center that killed 85 people.

See also:

Argentina Requests Extradition of Former Iranian FM for Role in 1994 Jewish Center Bombing

Alberto Nisman was Murdered, His Family Says

Jewish Centre Bombing: Argentine Prosecutor Nisman Found Dead

Argentina Congress Votes to Dissolve Intelligence Agency

Hundreds of Thousands Rally in Argentina Over the Death of Alberto Nisman

Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner May Face Argentina Bomb Probe

"There's no crime, there's no case. Bonadio knows it. The government knows it. President [Mauricio] Macri also knows it," Kirchner said.

Her arrest warrant stems from a 2015 investigation by federal prosecutor Alberto Nisman, who was found dead at his home less than a week after accusing Kirchner of the coverup.

Kirchner previously called the accusations "absurdity" and claimed they were part of a conspiracy to undermine her presidency.

Kirchner was granted legal immunity after being sworn in as a senator in October. Bonadio has also asked lawmakers to remove her immunity, which would require a two-thirds majority vote by Congress.

The judge also called for the arrest of Kirchner's former aide, Carlos Zanni, social activist Luis D'Elia and Muslim cleric Jorge Alejandro Khalil, all of whom were arrested in raids Thursday morning.

Hector Timerman, the former foreign minister, was held on house arrest due to health issues.

Kirchner faces trial in several other cases of corruption and money laundering during her time as president.

The treason charge is the most serious and carries a potential prison sentence of up to 15 years.

Ex-Argentine Leader Kirchner Charged, $633M Frozen in Corruption Case

Corruption is just about everywhere even in developed countries. But in developing countries it seems to be more rampant. Christina, the most glamorous First Lady or President of Argentina since Eva Peron, doesn't appear to be above cheating her people for her own benefit. We can hope and pray that Christina's prosecution is a sign that the new president will not tolerate graft. He is certainly setting a dangerous precedent if he doesn't.

By Doug G. Ware, UPI

Former Argentine leader Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner inspects a military honor guard during

a ceremony on July 13, 2010. On Tuesday, a federal judge approved criminal corruption charges

against the former two-term president stemming from accusations that she unlawfully steered

dozens of government contracts to a business acquaintance. Kirchner has denied the charges

and is expected to file an appeal. File Photo by Stephen Shaver/UPI | License Photo

BUENOS AIRES, Dec. 27 (UPI) -- A judge on Tuesday approved criminal corruption charges against former Argentine leader Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner and ordered frozen more than $630 million of her assets, pending the outcome of a federal trial.

Judge Julian Ercolini supported charges of illicit association and fraudulent administration against the ex-leader, for allegedly steering dozens of government contracts to a personal business acquaintance.

The judge outlined the charges in a 794-page resolution Tuesday, which says Kirchner conspired "to commit crimes, in order to illegally and deliberately seize funds assigned to public road works."

Kirchner, who endured multiple corruption scandals while she was in office between 2007 and 2015, has denied any wrongdoing and said the prosecution is politically-motivated. Defense attorneys said they will appeal.

In addition to upholding the criminal charges, Ercolini also ordered $633 million of Kirchner's assets to be frozen pending the outcome of the prosecution.

Charges in the case were also approved Tuesday against two former Kirchner aides, as well as Argentine construction magnate Lazaro Báez -- whose company, Austral Construcciones, was allegedly the illegal recipient of about 50 government contracts.

Báez, whose name was mentioned in multiple scandals tied to Kirchner, opened his construction business just days before she took office in 2007. Once open, prosecutors argue, the company was awarded many public works projects and consistently over-billed the government for them. The prosecutors' case covers a 12-year period that started when Kirchner was first lady of Argentina in 2003.

Kirchner left office in December 2015 following eight years of various accusations of corruption. Her late husband and predecessor, Néstor, was also targeted by scandals during his time in office.

A trial of the former leader could drag on for years, The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday. If convicted, Kirchner could face as many as 10 years in prison.

Ex-Argentinian Minister Says $9mn He Tried to Hide in Convent Came from Politics

Corruption by government officials is, I believe, rampant in most, if not all, 3rd world countries. I have complained many times about the incredible corruption in Nigeria, and I seriously doubt that there is a country in Africa where it does not thrive. 

That may also be true of South America. Brazil, was awarded the 2016 Summer Olympics because its economy was soaring and it appeared to be entering the industrialized world. The Olympic Games should have been a big step in that direction, but instead it has revealed utter failure for Brazil. While corruption was almost certainly not the cause of their demise, it certainly did not help - corruption to the highest levels of the government.

Now another emerging economy is revealing its corrupt underbelly to the world. 

In Canada, companies that do business internationally are punished for paying corrupt officials in 3rd world countries, but there simply is no other way of doing business with them. It's politics!

By Andrew V. Pestano  

Former Argentinian Public Works Minister Jose Lopez was arrested in June after trying to hide $9 million worth of cash and jewels in a Catholic convent. On Thursday, he said the money "belonged to politics." File photo UPI | License Photo

BUENOS AIRES, (UPI) -- Jose Lopez, ex-Argentinian public works minister under former President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, said $9 million he tried to hide in a convent came from politics.

Lopez was arrested in June after nuns at a convent called police about a man throwing bags into their compound. The bags were full of cash and jewels.

Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner

Buenos Aires provincial security chief Cristian Ritondo said Lopez "was caught red-handed with six bags, a suitcase and a weapon" at the time of his arrest.

Fernandez de Kirchner previously dismissed the incident as an act that could occur in all governments

"I don't want to minimize anything, but I think those are episodes that can take place for any government," she said.

Lopez has been receiving psychiatric treatment while imprisoned. He had not been questioned since his arrest as authorities were waiting for his mental health to stabilize.

"First and foremost I want to say I was looking forward to appearing before you right now. Not like the first time, when I was out of my mind," Lopez said during testimony on Thursday, documents provided by Clarin show.

Lopez, who is being investigated for "illegal enrichment," said his wife and the nuns at the convent were not involved.

"They didn't know what was in them ... My wife either. I always kept her away from my work and political work," Lopez said. "What I will say regarding that money is that it didn't belong to me, it belonged to politics. I will provide all the details when I have the necessary physical and psychological strength."