MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Argentine government claims Nisman could have committed “embezzlement and bribery” crimes

Anibal Fernandez stated Nisman had a “troupe that did not work” but did get paid, and had “the most expensive champagne” when he went out at night.

The Argentine government leading spokesperson launched another furious (smear) attack on the late AMIA special prosecutor Alberto Nisman, alleging he committed federal crimes if he spent government funds in prostitutes and champagne, and kept part of the salaries of his staff.

 Chief of staff Anibal Fernández claimed that Nisman could have committed federal crimes if he was pictured with “VIP prostitutes,” and could also be responsible of “embezzlement” if statements by one of his closest aides, Diego Lagomarsino saying that Nisman forced him to hand over half of his 41,000-peso salary to him were true.

Talking with reporters upon his arrival at the government house Thursday morning, Anibal Fernández stated Nisman had a “troupe that did not work” but did get paid and that the late prosecutor had “the most expensive champagne” when he went out at night.

Cristina Fernandez chief of staff also referred to a filing issued on Wednesday by Diego Lagomarsino, the computer expert who worked for Nisman and who lent him the gun that ended with his life. On Wednesday Lagomarsino revealed the prosecutor’s office of Alberto Nisman made him give him half of his salary.

If that is true, Fernández considered, Nisman would be responsible of “embezzlement, bribery and peculate” crimes which would have to be “reported” by Judge Fabiana Palmaghini and prosecutor Viviana Fein – both leading the investigation into the death of Nisman -, in a “parallel” case.

Queried about criticism by opposition leaders who have been questioning Fernández for his comments on Nisman saying he was criticizing a dead person, the head of ministers explained he would “apologize” if he made a mistake and that he will be “excused.”

Among the opposition figures who strongly hit at Fernández was opposition senator Ernesto Sanz, the leader of the Radical Party (UCR) that this weekend closed an electoral alliance with the right-wing party of Buenos Aires City Mayor Mauricio Macri to compete in the PASO primaries.

Regarding the decision by Judge Palmaguini to file a criminal complaint against the Technological Support Unit of the Federal Police for allegedly leaking private photographs from the late prosecutor’s mobile phone, Fernández pointed out the police followed “protocols” to get the information on Nisman’s phone.