Skimm 11/01/2016
Skim For November 1st 2016
Skimmed while watching the Indians lose terribly in game 6.
A couple With Corruption
The Story
The former president of Argentina, Cristina Fernandez, had made her first court appearance to refute the allegations of corruption against her.
What happened?
Cristiana Fernandez claimed victim in this case saying that the government and current president, Mauricio Macri are accusing her to in order to cover up their own faults. Fernandez and her husband are accused of laundering money to wealthy businessman Lazaro Baez. They are also being investigated for possible involvement in illegal enrichment and state and currency fraud. This was said to have been done through public work contracts Baez received during the presidency of Fernandez and her husband Nestor Kirchner, who had also served as the Argentinean president prior to Fernandez. Earlier this year Baez was arrested on the charges of embezzling and money laundering. Despite these allegations she is being very open, cooperating with officials, and has even handed over national budget documents. Fernandez does not seem to be ousted by the public due to these charges. Many crowded outside the courthouse to show support their support this Monday. Mauricio Marci is using this as a platform to promote change and mechanisms to end corruption in the Argentinian government.
What’s next?
The judge has up until November 9th to examine the evidence and decided whether or not to press charges against former President Cristina Fernandez.
Yet Another El Salvadorian President Facing Charges
The Story
On October 30th the former president of El Salvador, Elias Antonio Saca was arrested and brought up on charges of the embezzlement of public funds, possible political corruption, conspiracy, and money laundering during his term in office.
What happened?
Elias Antonio Saca was the president of El Salvador from the years of 2004-2009. He is now currently the third El Salvadorian president in the last 16 years to have been accused of participating in illegal activity while in office. On November 2nd police searched Saca’s residence and several other properties he had been associated with. During his time in office he is believed to embezzled $264,000,000 of public funds into personal accounts. This scheme is also thought to be connected to his conservative political party, Nationalist Republican Alliance (ARENA), which his predecessor Francisco Flores was also part of. Flores was under investigation for similar charges but passed away before his trial date. Saca is said to have worked through his network of close officials, which included Pablo Gomez, Francisco Rodriguez Arteaga and Jorge Alberto Herrera who have all also been arrested this weekend. In a press conference held earlier in the week it was determined that Saca had embezzled 5.4 million euros.
What’s next?
The court will have to decide whether to keep Saca in custody, release him pending trial, or place him under house arrest. If he is found to be guilty, he could face a sentence of up to 15 years in prison.
Sources
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-37829540
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-37817704
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-37849608
http://pulse.ng/world/elias-antonio-saca-el-salvador-ex-president-embezzled-millions-prosecutor-says-id5687203.html