Hundreds demonstrate on second anniversary of mysterious death of Argentine prosecutor

Record ID: 164639

  • Title: Hundreds demonstrate on second anniversary of mysterious death of Argentine prosecutor
  • Date: 19th January 2017
  • Summary: BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA (JANUARY 18, 2017) (REUTERS) BANNER WITH PHOTO OF ARGENTINE PROSECUTOR, ALBERTO NISMAN, WITH MESSAGE THAT READS "HOW DID IT HAPPEN?" DURING ANNIVERSARY PROTEST TO MARK TWO-YEARS SINCE HIS DEATH
  • Embargoed: 2nd February 2017 01:19
  • Keywords: Argentina Alberto Nisman Cristina Fernandez
  • Location: BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA
  • City: BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA
  • Country: Argentina
  • Topics: Crime/Law/Justice,Crime
  • Reuters ID: LVA0015ZLZZNN
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Argentines marked the second anniversary of the death of prosecutor Alberto Nisman on Wednesday (January 18) who died under mysterious circumstances after accusing former President Christina Fernandez of trying to cover up Iran's alleged role in the bombing of a Buenos Aires Jewish centre in 1994.
    The prosecutor who first brought the allegation, Alberto Nisman, died mysteriously in January 2015, and a judge later threw the case out for lack of evidence. But that earlier ruling was revoked in December, opening Fernandez to prosecution.
    "The (Supreme) Court, after one year and eight months, the representatives of impunity got tired of impeding advances in justice and the court finally gave a ruling on a question which was banal and secondary. It was what would happen to the investigation, and it clearly said that Nisman's death was directly related to his work as a federal officer. To say it clearly, Nisman died for denouncing Cristina Elizabeth Fernandez, the widow of Kirchner," said prosecutor German Moldes at the protest.
    Argentine courts have accused Iran of sponsoring the attack, which killed 85 people at the AMIA Jewish community centre.
    Nisman was found in his home shot through the head days after accusing Fernandez of trying to derail the bombing investigation as part of a plan to close the country's energy gap by trading Argentine grains for Iranian oil.
    She dismisses the charge as absurd.
    Nisman's death was initially classified as a suicide, but an official investigating the case said early this year that the evidence pointed to homicide.
    Argentine President Mauricio Macri welcomed the new developments in the Nisman case.
    "This commitment to search for the truth is very positive. That new cases are opened, that the cases bring us closer to the truth regarding the claim (against Fernandez) and regarding the death of prosecutor Nisman. I think we are on the right path but there is a while still to go. We also hope that with reasonable time we can know the truth, that this does not take forever," he said.
    Nisman was just hours away from a scheduled appearance in Congress to brief lawmakers on his accusations against Fernandez when his body was found on the floor of his apartment, a 22-caliber pistol by his side.
    Iran has repeatedly denied any link to the bombing, and an Argentine judge in February 2015 dismissed Nisman's accusations as baseless. A review panel later agreed by a 2-1 vote, finding insufficient evidence to formally investigate Fernandez.
    The former president has faced several criminal charges since leaving office a year ago. She was indicted this week on charges arising from allegations she and top officials from her administration skimmed money intended for public works projects.
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