MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Argentine ex official sentenced to six years in prison for corruption
The case became emblematic of Argentina's corruption and emerged when Lopez was caught red-handed tossing 160 suitcases over a wall to the convent garden 
An 80-year-old Catholic nun, Sister Celia Ines Aparicio, who was charged with complicity in the case, was acquitted. A court on Wednesday sentenced former Argentine secretary of Public Works minister Jose Lopez to six years in prison after he was caught by police trying to hide bags stuffed with US$9 million in cash at a Buenos Aires convent.
The case became emblematic of the country's corruption and first emerged when Lopez, 58, was caught red-handed tossing 160 suitcases and duffel bags over a wall into the garden of the convent.
An 80-year-old Catholic nun, Sister Celia Ines Aparicio, who was charged with complicity in the case, was acquitted.
Lopez was part of a group of officials who were close to late president Nestor Kirchner and his successor and wife Cristina Kirchner.
Lopez and his former boss, ex-planning minister Julio de Vido - who has also been jailed for corruption - managed the federal government's public works projects under the Kirchners (2003-2015).
His wife, Maria Diaz, was given a two-year suspended sentence for complicity in the case.
A former deputy minister for public works, Lopez is also suspected of embezzlement in two other corruption cases. He has been held in preventive detention at Ezeiza prison outside Buenos Aires.
Cristina Kirchner, now a senator who is running for vice-president in October's elections, is currently on trial for corruption dating from her two terms as Argentina's president from 2007-2015.
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Read all commentsHow sweet of Stink...he now steps in to cover for Reekie...does he, by any chance, think Reekie can't answer for himself ?
Jun 13th, 2019 - 10:20 pm +5And he just can't help himself....he looks down on everyone (except Gollum....and 'perhaps' Reekie ?), by calling them 'laddie', or 'boy'...or are they just terms of endearment ?
And his constant referring to himself as 'humble me“, is just a subconscious way of implying ”I'm smarter than all of you''.....You are as transparent as crystal, Chubuty turnip... .
@Stink , the old circus Chimp
Jun 14th, 2019 - 03:25 pm +3Oh Stinky....using my name in vain....your uninformed conclusions are worthy of Reekie. Anyway, I'm only butting in because my name was mentioned, not to defend anyone.
But please, don't lose your temper....and no need to resort to silly insults.....not becoming of an old Scandywegian Chubuty turnip.
@DT
“Condones, maybe”.....and without going into the merits whether it was justified or not, I find it quite 'funny' (not really, more like pathetic) that someone (the Chimp) who has never been to Rio (far less held up there), has never seen the street “kiddos” - young, nice, affable kids, who would 'never' do anyone any harm - in action, seems to know all about it, better than the Cariocas and those who have seen it first hand.
I think Stink's sarcasm is turning into rage....hope he's taking his meds for high blood pressure...
@EM
Jun 13th, 2019 - 06:00 pm +2You do believe Lopez is guilty, then. Didn't he tell them who the money came from, and what he agreed to do in return? No one pays bribes for nothing.
@Think
I see. Would have been better to make a law protecting everyone, rather than just politicians. Do you think the immunity was a big factor in CFK becoming a senator?
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