Cristina Kirchner and 86 others face Argentina’s largest corruption trial
Former government officials and business leaders are set to stand trial in Argentina’s so-called “notebooks case,” which alleges a massive bribery-for-contracts scheme between 2003 and 2015.
The origins of the case
For nearly twelve years, Oscar Centeno, driver to a senior official in the administrations of Néstor and Cristina Kirchner, documented every trip made with bags filled with cash. These funds were allegedly bribes from construction companies seeking government contracts.
Centeno’s detailed notes included routes, schedules, names, and even the weight of the bags when the exact amount of money was uncertain. His meticulous records became the cornerstone of what is now recognized as the biggest corruption inquiry in Argentina’s history.
The trial and defendants
The proceedings, beginning on Thursday, will try Cristina Kirchner as the alleged leader of an illicit bribery network. Alongside her, 19 former officials from her administration and 65 business executives will also face charges.
Current legal circumstances
The 72-year-old former president is already serving a six-year prison term in another corruption case and has been under house arrest since June. In this trial, she could receive an additional sentence ranging from five to ten years.
Defense position
“The sentence has already been written,” said Gregorio Dalbón, Kirchner’s lawyer, calling the process “a witch hunt” and “an act of revenge.”
Author’s summary: Argentina’s most extensive corruption trial begins, targeting Cristina Kirchner and dozens of officials accused of systemic bribery linked to years of government contracting.