FILE- In this July 31, 2014, file photo, Argentina's Vice President Amado Boudou gestures to supporters before the speech of Argentine President Cristina Fernandez at Casa Rosada Presidential Palace in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Boudou is facing trial on charges of bribery and conducting business incompatible with public office. The trial began Tuesday, Oct. 3 2017. (AP Photo/Victor R. Caivano, File)
Republished October 03, 2017 - 9:26 AM
Original Publication Date October 03, 2017 - 8:46 AM
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina - Former Argentine Vice-President Amado Boudou went on trial Tuesday on charges of bribery and conducting business incompatible with public office.
Boudou is accused of using shell companies and middlemen to gain control of a company that was granted contracts to print the Argentine peso. He denies any wrongdoing. The 54-year-old also served as economy minister during the 2007-2015 administration of former President Cristina Fernandez.
The trial comes just weeks before the Oct. 22 midterm legislative elections, where Fernandez is competing for a Senate seat.
Since leaving office, the populist leader has been hit by a string of corruption scandals and was indicted last year. She has dismissed the allegations as politically motivated.
Other former members of her cabinet have also been indicted in recent months on corruption charges.
A judicial investigation determined that Boudou acted to smooth a printing company's exit from bankruptcy and engineer its purchase by a shell company so he and other secret partners could benefit from tax exemptions and government contracts.
The shell company, The Old Fund, was led by businessman Alejandro Vandenbroele, who is accused of secretly representing Boudou in business deals.
If convicted in the trial, Boudou could be sentenced to as long as six years in prison and be banned for life from elective office.
News from © The Associated Press, 2017