The first stage of the trial against Cristina Fernández de Kirchner and fourteen others for corruption pertaining to public works projects that were handed over to businessmen Lázaro Báez ended up Monday. The Federal Oral Court (TOF) N.2 finished reading the indictment against Fernández de Kirchner and several first line officials of her administration, despite the former president’s absence in Comodoro Py federal courthouse, having received permission to miss the hearing from the court itself. The next stage will include initial allegations by the prosecution and the defense, after which questioning and witnesses will be called.
The former president had already informed the court on Friday, June 21 that she would not be present at the reading of the indictment due to a prior commitment in the Senate. In her capacity as Senator from Buenos Aires province, she presented a document informing of an official meeting with the president of the Chamber of Deputies of Entre Ríos province, Sergio Urribarri, “on the occasion of a request made by the latter.”
The reading included 200 pages of charges the prosecutor has made against Fernández de Kirchner and the other accused parties, which include Báez, former minister Julio de Vido, former public works secretary José López and Santiago Carlos Kirchner, Néstor Kirchner’s brother and former official in the Ministry of Planning.
In the coming stage, the defense will have the chance to make requests for nullity and objections. After this, the 163 witnesses that have been called are expected to testify as the trial takes on an electoral note, occurring just as the campaigning will be at its strongest. Expected to make an appearance at the AMIA Room of Comodoro Py courthouse are Alberto Fernández, CFK’s presidential candidate, former cabinet chiefs Jorge Capitanich, Juan Manuel Abal Medina and Sergio Massa, as well as Paula Olivetto, Margarita Stolbizer and Silvina Martínez, as detailed a few days ago by PERFIL.
The first hearing took place Tuesday May 21 in Comodoro Py. Cristina faced the tribunal that day, arriving at the courthouse in the Buenos Aires neighbourhood of Retiro amidst an intense security operation. This is the second hearing which Fernández de Kirchner will not attend. The first was on June 3 due to official Senate business.
- TIMES/PERFIL/AB/FF
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