MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Three Indicted in Argentine Scandal

Argentina's ex-spy chief and two former senators were indicted on bribery charges Friday in connection with a vote-buying scandal that has revived one of the country's most notorious corruption cases.

Federal Judge Rodolfo Canicoba Corral charged Fernando Santibañes, the former intelligence chief, and froze $3.4 million of his assets. One-time senators Jose Genoud and Emilio Cantarero were also hit with liens for similar amounts.

The indictments came as part of an investigation into accusations that officials from the government of former President Fernando de la Rua bribed senators in exchange for their votes in favor of a controversial labor law passed in April 2000.

All three men have repeatedly denied the accusations.

The vote-buying scandal sparked a political crisis for de La Rua at the time, leading his vice president to resign. De la Rua was eventually forced from office by deadly street riots amid Argentina's economic crisis in 2001.

The corruption scandal gained fresh attention last month when a former Senate administrative official said he had personally delivered some $5 million in government funds intended to sway the labor vote.