ARGENTINA/FILE: Argentine Appeals Court finds former President, Carlos Menem, guilty of illegally selling arms in the 1990s

Record ID: 447267

  • Title: ARGENTINA/FILE: Argentine Appeals Court finds former President, Carlos Menem, guilty of illegally selling arms in the 1990s
  • Date: 8th March 2013
  • Summary: BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA (MARCH 8, 2013) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF FEDERAL COURT HOUSE ARGENTINE FLAG VARIOUS OF LOCAL NEWS STATIONS OUTSIDE COURT HOUSE ANNOUNCING SENTENCE OF FORMER ARGENTINE PRESIDENT CARLOS MENEM
  • Embargoed: 23rd March 2013 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Argentina
  • Country: Argentina
  • Topics: Crime,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAASN48AZAHB5IMK1MR1AWT2JQJ
  • Story Text: An Appeals Court on Friday (March 8) found former Argentine President Carlos Menem guilty of illegally selling 6,500 tonnes of arms to Ecuador and Croatia during his time in power in the 1990s.
    Friday's ruling overturned a 2011 ruling that acquitted Menem on charges of arms trafficking.
    The 82-year-old, who now serves as a senator, has been plagued by a 10-year presidency remembered for free-market reforms and corruption.
    The flamboyant leader, who governed Argentina from 1989 to 1999, insists on his innocence and said he didn't know how weapons destined for Venezuela and Panama ended up in Ecuador and Croatia.
    Argentina was barred from supplying Ecuador with weapons since it played a peace-keeping role after Ecuador and Peru fought a brief war in 1995. Arms sales to Croatia were internationally banned during the wars that tore apart the former Yugoslavia from 1991 to 1995.
    The former head of state, who could face four to twelve years in prison, may opt to appeal his conviction before the Supreme Court.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2013. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register