Corruption trial starts of Argentina’s Cristina Fernández

Under heavy security, a federal court in Buenos Aires began hearing on Tuesday the first criminal case filed against former president Cristina Fernández de Kirchner (2007-15), who is accused of accepting bribes from construction firms in exchange for government contracts awarded to an allied businessman.

According to state news agency Télam, prosecutors only managed to read a fraction of the charge sheet, meaning that this initial phase of the trial will take several court sessions, while the trial itself is expected to last for months.

The judiciary’s news service CIJ said 13 individuals are accused in the case, including Fernández, businessman Lázaro Báez and former planning minister Julio de Vido, while about 160 witnesses are expected to testify.

Prosecutors said Fernández (pictured during the hearing) and her late husband and predecessor in the presidential palace, Néstor Kirchner, fixed the awarding of 51 roadworks contracts in Santa Cruz province to companies owned by Báez over 12 years.

The country’s anti-corruption office said in a separate press release that the contracts, which were plagued by delays and other irregularities, cost the state 46bn pesos (US$1bn at current exchange rates).

On Saturday, Fernández announced that she would run as vice president in this October’s elections, on the ticket of her late husband’s former chief of staff Alberto Fernández.

She is also facing charges in several other cases, including the Los Sauces and Notebooksinvestigations.

As a senator, Fernández de Kirchner enjoys immunity from prosecution and does not have to attend the future court sessions.