MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Former Argentine president Menem indicted for alleged “terrorist cover up”

Menen is accused of ordering the destruction of 54 cassettes with evidence

An Argentine judge has indicted former President Carlos Menem, several of his aides and an ex judge Juan Jose Galeano for allegedly trying to cover up evidence related to a deadly 1994 terrorist bombing in Buenos Aires against a Jewish organization.

A car bomb hit a Jewish community centre, known as the AMIA,in the heart of Buenos Aires killing 85 and injuring hundreds.

The building was virtually levelled to the ground.

Judge Lijo also slapped a 300,000-peso freeze on the assets of the accused.

In a written statement, the judge said Mr Menem covered up what was called at the time “the Syrian connection”. He has previously denied any wrongdoing.

At the start of the investigation, the spotlight had turned on an Argentine Syrian friend of the Menem family.

The judge accused Mr Menem of covering up and destroying evidence, and abusing his authority. His brother, Munir Menem, who was presidential chief of staff at the time, was also accused of the same crimes.

The magistrate also prosecuted former police officer Jorge ‘Fino' Palacios and the former head of the SIDE intelligence office Hugo Anzorregui. They are suspected of having obstructed the probe into the Syrians and Iranian links to the 1994 bombing.

Palacios was recently the candidate of Buenos Aires mayor Mauricio Macri to become the head of the City Metropolitan police.

In the writ signed by Lijo substantiating the indictments, the magistrate said the Menem brothers had “a determining influence” in the judicial process formerly led by Judge Galeano, forcing the judiciary to back pedal raids at apartments of the Kanoore Edul family, which are believed to have organized the operation.

The courts suspect Kanoore Edul followed orders from Iranian officials, who allegedly masterminded the operation.

Speaking to local reporters, the chief prosecutor in the investigation, Alberto Nissman, said he had requested this indictment a long time ago. He said the evidence ordered destroyed by Menem had been in 54 cassettes.

According to Nissman, Carlos Menem ordered the cover-up his brother communicated it and the judge, the police and intelligence officers carried it out.

Judge Galeano was charged with covering up, abusing the authority and destroying evidence.

”Justice is coming in spite of time, and (the investigation) is providing answers to the families of the victims”, said Nissman.

Prosecutor Nissman has also accused Iran of involvement in the attack - the worst in Argentina since World War II.

The Argentine government has requested the international capture of several Iranian officials, including the recently named Defence secretary of the Teheran regime: Ahmad Vahidi.

The Argentine Jewish community is the largest in Latinamerica.