Argentina: Vice President Cristina Fernandez Found Guilty of Fraud, Gets 6 Years in Prison

Argentina's Vice President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, who previously served as president of the country, was sentenced to six years in prison after she was found guilty of "fraudulent administration" when she awarded public works contracts to a friend during her presidency.

According to the Associated Press, a three-judge panel found the former president and current vice president guilty of embezzling $1 billion through public works projects when she awarded all those government contracts to a close family friend.

However, the three judges did acquit her of a charge that accused her of running a criminal organization. This verdict was historic because this is the first time that an Argentinian vice president has been convicted of a crime while still in office.

Aside from her six-year sentence, Vice President Fernandez is now also barred from holding public office. This is considered a lifetime ban, meaning she would not be allowed to run for any public office ever again.

Vice President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner Not Likely to Go to Jail For a While

While the sentence was a huge blow to Vice President Fernandez, the BBC pointed out that she is still unlikely to get some jail time. As the current vice president, she still has some immunity thanks to her various government roles.

In addition, the sentences could still be appealed, and her legal team is expected to do so. This process could take years, and this means that with her position as the second most powerful person in Argentina, as well as the long time that these appeals might take, she might never be arrested, remaining immune from any arrest, at least for a time.

As the case goes through Argentina's higher courts, Fernandez herself reacted to the verdict. She stated that she is the victim of a "judicial mafia." However, despite this sentence and her ban, she also announced that she will not be running for the presidency next year. She previously held the position from 2007-2015, and this was also when her corrupt activities took place.

What Cristina Fernandez Did to Land Her a Guilty Verdict

A report by the Buenos Aires Times stated that the vice president and 12 others were accused of graft when Fernandez was still the president. It was locally called the "Vialidad trial" and has been going on since 2019. It centered on irregularities in the awarding and overpricing of tenders for public works projects.

Many of the government contracts awarded under the Fernandez administration were given to businessmen and de Kirchner family ally Lazaro Baez. While the vice president insisted on her innocence, her business partner, Baez, was already found guilty of corruption in connection to the contracts awarded to him.

Vice President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner has remained a divisive figure in Argentina. While she has millions of adoring supporters, she also has millions of critics who see the Peronist leader as a corrupt politician. She is so hated by many that one disgruntled man even tried to assassinate her. Despite surviving the assassination attempt, however, her trial still went through.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Vice president Kirchner's corruption trial divides Argentina - Al Jazeera English