Argentine ex-president Kirchner accused in mammoth corruption trial
Former Argentine president Cristina Fernández de Kirchner has gone on trial with more than 80 others for taking huge bribes while in office in return for public contracts. The charismatic former leader has a previous conviction for corruption and is under house arrest.
Buenos Aires (dpa) - The largest corruption trial in Argentina's history began in Buenos Aires on Thursday.
The accused include 87 politicians, civil servants and entrepreneurs, including Argentina's former president Cristina Fernández de Kirchner (2007-2015), who is currently under house arrest for a separate corruption conviction.
Together with her predecessor in office and now deceased husband Néstor Kirchner (2003-2007), she is alleged to have set up a system in which entrepreneurs had to pay bribes in order to win public contracts.
$60 million paid in bribes
Over the years, at least $60 million is said to have been paid in bribes, which several entrepreneurs have already admitted to paying. The mammoth trial is expected to last several years. A total of over 440 witnesses are to be heard.
The case came to light because a driver who collected the bribes kept meticulous records of the sums.
According to the indictment, the money was brought to the presidential residence, the seat of government and the Kirchners' private flat in bags, rucksacks and satchels.
Kirchner already under house arrest
Cristina Kirchner rejects the accusations. The 72-year-old is currently serving a six-year prison sentence under house arrest for another corruption case. Two further trials against the ex-president could also begin next year.