MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Argentine ex official sentenced to six years in prison for corruption
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. Read full article
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Jun 13th, 2019 - 09:04 am - Link - Report abuse -4Article says...:
***“ Argentine Ex Minister sentenced to six years in prison for corruption...”***
I say...:
“Ex Minister...? Where...?
Article says...:
***” Lopez, 58, was caught red-handed tossing 160 suitcases and duffel bags over a wall...“***
I say...:
***” 160 suitcases and duffel bags”***...? 160...? Really...?
Compare the speed with which people accused in the Mueller were tried and condemned with the years it is taking to get even close to putting members of the Kirchner mafia on trial. The slow, bureaucratic nature of the Argentine legal system is one reason why there is so much disregard for the law in this country
Jun 13th, 2019 - 01:17 pm - Link - Report abuse +1Ok..., MercoPress...
Jun 13th, 2019 - 01:47 pm - Link - Report abuse -4You corrected “Ex Minister” with “Ex Official” quick enough...
What about them..: ***” 160 suitcases and duffel bags”***..., huhhhhhhhh...?
160 suitcases and duffel bags, lol. Never mind throwing them over a fence, he'd have needed a forklift! In the original article it was 6 bags and a suitcase, with 160 bundles of cash. Suitcase inflation... mind you, if it was in pesos instead of USD he'd have needed that many bags. ;)
Jun 13th, 2019 - 02:04 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Well...
Jun 13th, 2019 - 03:19 pm - Link - Report abuse -3At least there will be one less brainwashed Anglo next year telling me the true story of an Argentinean Ex-President sentenced to sixty years in prison for tossing 16,000 suitcases and duffel bags over a fence... ;-)))
Nah, the ex-presidents have get-out-of-jail-free cards. If Macri loses the election, he can always take over from CFK as senator for BA.
Jun 13th, 2019 - 03:45 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@viejopatagon
Don't forget the US system gets much of its efficiency from denying people the right to a fair trial (by threatening them with a vastly increased sentence if they insist on it).
Inform yourself..., boy...
Jun 13th, 2019 - 04:07 pm - Link - Report abuse -3Nothing in the Argentinean parlamentary immunity rules to prevent prosecution..., indictment and jailing of anybody..., after DUE LEGAL PROCESS...
Argentinean parlamentary immunity rules protect politicians from the misuse of..., for example..., time-indefinite preventive detention..., a legal figure being currently vastly abused by the judiciary to imprision opponents of the current administration...
Capisce...?
Serious question: why do only currently-serving politicians get protection from the *misuse* of time-indefinite preventive detention? What about those who are standing for office, for example? If CFK wasn't a senator, they could stick her in jail... that would make it hard to campaign for the presidency. And what about ordinary people like you? You could be jailed for years awaiting trial, with no recourse?
Jun 13th, 2019 - 04:28 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Two interesting facts in the Lopez case:
Jun 13th, 2019 - 04:29 pm - Link - Report abuse -5Lopez told investigators the money had been sent to him by Cristina, through a secretary. However, security cameras failed to confirm his story by showing a car and a motorbike which, according to Lopez, would have taken the money bags to his house and would then have escorted him to the convent. So no links to Cristina could be proven.
Lopez got six years -- the maximum allowable by law -- but what about those who paid the bribe or bribes? Guess what: Not one was interested in finding out.
From the time Lopez was arrested, the media circus was on the story everyday. However, at some point in the investigation, the attention waned and remained so until now.
This happened when the investigation about the money’s origin began to point in Macrism’s direction.
From that moment on, the main media outlets ceased to be interested in where the money had come from.
Not only that: the judges also decided it wasn’t a worthwhile pursuit to follow the money trail, in spite that, in bribing, both parties are punishable.
Should be done -- would be interesting.
Right boy...
Jun 13th, 2019 - 04:41 pm - Link - Report abuse -4Ordinary people like me can (and are) being jailed for years awaiting trial..., with no recourse...
That is the current situation of about ~35 ordinary people..., linked to the last Kirchner administration..., including the two owners of C5N..., the ONLY opposition TV channel in Argentina...
I take the liberty of calling them “political prisoners...”
Capisce...?
@EM
Jun 13th, 2019 - 06:00 pm - Link - Report abuse +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?
“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”.
Jun 13th, 2019 - 06:38 pm - Link - Report abuse +2MP seems to have a problem with 'zeroes'.
But “caught red-handed ? all bs....he was only training to throw 20 kg beer kegs over the wall, for an upcoming ”strong man” competition.....he could always have claimed that CFK did not telll him they were full of money.....there, case dismissed.....and maybe he could learn a lesson or two (in lying) from Lula...“I know nothing”...
@EM
“So no links to Cristina could be proven”. The conclusion in your closing statement is brilliant....meaning, it is IMpossible that CFK might have given the cash to him, despite his close links to her and her late husband ; ...but hold on, someone must have ....or maybe he just found the bags piled up on the sidewalk, during his evening stroll.
Not every foul deed can be proved, but obviously, CFK is innocent and Macri is to blame.
Mr. DemonTree...
Jun 13th, 2019 - 07:07 pm - Link - Report abuse -51) To avoid future silly questions..., I will take the liberty..., hopefully with Sr. Massot's approval..., to answer for him...
You will find no one in Argentina that doesn't believe Secretary of Public Works Lopez is guilty... Not his mother..., wife..., children..., Sr. Massot or humble me..., capisce...?
2) Rules protecting everyone from time-indefinite preventive detention already exist..., boy...
Problem is..., as I already explained above..., that they are being...: ***“ currently vastly abused by the judiciary to imprision opponents of the present administration...”***
Do you ever read what I write..., boy...?
3) If immunity (against arbitrary arrest) had been a factor in Mme. Cristina Elisabet de Kirchner life..., she would had seek immunity giving political office already in 2015 and not waited til 2017...
Don't you Think...?
How 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 - Link - Report abuse +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... .
@Think
Jun 13th, 2019 - 10:51 pm - Link - Report abuse +11. That wasn't a question. Please note the lack of question mark. The question was what did Lopez do in return for the bribe.
2. I do read what you write, though I'm not convinced of the contrary. You believe Argentina has kangaroo courts, Enrique disagrees. But if that was the purpose of the politicians' immunity, they must have anticipated corruption in the courts when writing the constitution. Is that so?
3. She might not have seen the need until her friends and associates started getting arrested; perhaps she had faith in Scioli to win. And would she even be able to stand for senator while still president?
@Demontree...
Jun 13th, 2019 - 11:30 pm - Link - Report abuse -7You do believe Jack Bauer is a disgusting degenerate that enjoys the concept of murdering Brasilian street kiddos, then.
That wasn't a question... Please note the lack of question mark....
I do wonder if you would be as indulgent and communicative with suchhuman trash if them murdered kiddos were Engrish...?
Tinkle, where does DM mention “ Brasilian street kids ”? We happen to be talking about Argentina and its laws of immunity.
Jun 14th, 2019 - 07:22 am - Link - Report abuse 0@Think
Jun 14th, 2019 - 09:16 am - Link - Report abuse 0No, I don't believe that. Condones, maybe. :(
And doesn't Chicureo share similar views? You don't have a problem being friendly with him.
@Stink , the old circus Chimp
Jun 14th, 2019 - 03:25 pm - Link - Report abuse +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...
Rage? No, he's just trying to stir up trouble. But murder is never justified, most especially not of kids.
Jun 14th, 2019 - 03:52 pm - Link - Report abuse +1You are pro-abortion. What if it is justified by re-naming them as mere “tissue”?
Jun 14th, 2019 - 05:17 pm - Link - Report abuse 0To get back to the topic, I'd be very interested in seeing answers to DT's questions 1,2,3 from the person they were asked to.
Geeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee....
Jun 14th, 2019 - 08:19 pm - Link - Report abuse -6An Anglo that openly enjoys the concept of murdering Brasilian street kiddos...
Another Anglo that justifies the killing of brownish kids by re-naming them as mere “tissue”...
A third “Cherry on Top” Anglo that declares that it's humble me..., who's trying to stir up trouble...
Nice people those Anglos...
Why else would you post that? I don't think you care about my opinion.
Jun 14th, 2019 - 09:03 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@Bushpilot
I wouldn't hold your breath for those answers...
JB
Jun 14th, 2019 - 09:56 pm - Link - Report abuse -2@EM
“So no links to Cristina could be proven”. The conclusion in your closing statement is brilliant....meaning, it is IMpossible that CFK might have given the cash to him, despite his close links to her and her late husband ; ..
Well, Jack, when I say no links to Cristina could be proven I am alluding to the court case, where Lopez did say the money was sent to him by CFK and told a detailed story about when and how the money was sent but none of that could be verified.
I did not say it's IMPOSSIBLE that CFK gave the money to Lopez -- only that it could not be proven -- please avoid putting words into my mouth.
So the court case ended up with a six-year sentence for Lopez...but -- I'll say it again in case you missed reading it in my previous post -- no effort was made to uncover the payer or payers of the bribe money. Why?
Some links pointing to Macri exist and could have been investigated. Why not?
Part of the money went through the Finansur Bank at a time it was managed by Jorge Sánchez Cordova, Boca Juniors treasurer and when Macri was the soccer club president.
The second link points to Brazilian construction company Odebrecht, which operated with Finansur. Odebrecht paid bribes in the mega project to make underground the Sarmiento railway line, in association with the Macri Group part of which were IECSA, Gella and Isolux.
I included these details because I know you are a thorough researcher and will no doubt find interesting elements to the story based on that info.
REF: “ex-official sentenced to 6 years in prison for corruption”:
Jun 15th, 2019 - 03:20 pm - Link - Report abuse 0W0W! Sounds like a “Gift to the Corrupt”!
How old fashioned of them to consider corruption as a crime?
Why don't the Neighboring Countries adopt such policies?
https://conteudo.imguol.com.br/blogs/58/files/2019/01/BenettEscola.png
@EM
Jun 15th, 2019 - 07:51 pm - Link - Report abuse +1“...only that it could not be proven -- please avoid putting words into my mouth”....OK, apologize for 'putting words in your mouth', but thanks for implying that it COULD be possible...which in turn, implies CFK is not above suspicion...If Lopez threw CFK under the bus, despite having been a close collaborator of hers, why accuse her, IF he'd received the money from a different source, other than CFK ?
“ I'll say it again in case you missed reading it in my previous post -- no effort was made to uncover the payer or payers of the bribe money. Why?”
No, I didn't miss it, but good question ...“why ?”
Seems you have the answer....because it pointed to the then recently elected Macri... is that it ? so, a CFK collaborator - who obviously, then became a 'turncoat' - conspiring with Macri....for what reason, if the latter had already been elected ? (does he have immunity ?)
But you stated “Some links pointing to Macri exist”...Ok, you suggest there was a link to Macri through the Finansur Bank and the Boca Juniors, and through the Sarmiento metro line and Odebrecht (Macri group involved)....Ok, the 'path' existed, but was it 'used' for corruption ? we don't know because they presumably aborted the investigation.
All quite feasible....but if so, why did Lopez accuse CFK and not Macri ? and while we're talking about Odebrecht, weren't there other, previous accusations against CFK regarding Odebrecht bribes ?
By dropping the investigation they may have been protecting CFK as much as Macri....would that be IMpossible ? Maybe Macri's name was thrown around to divert atention from CFK...i.e., only suggest he could be guilty, give the claims an air of legitimacy but don't conclude the investigation, in order to throw a fly in the ointment for Macri.
Am just speculating, but I wouldn't discard those possibilities.....especially knowing that Odebrecht always covered their bases, bribing ALL the players, right to the top.
@Jack Bauer
Jun 15th, 2019 - 09:24 pm - Link - Report abuse 0REF: “Odebrecht always covered their a*ses, bribing ALL the players, right to the top”:
- It takes TWO, to samba/tango
- What’s the sound of ONE hand clapping?
https://www.otempo.com.br/image/contentid/policy:1.2193035:1559874419/CHARGE%20O%20TEMPO.JPG?f=3x2&q=0.6&w=620&$p$f$q$w=904c3fd
@:o))
Jun 15th, 2019 - 10:24 pm - Link - Report abuse 0“What’s the sound of ONE hand clapping?”
Silence.
@Jack Bauer
Jun 15th, 2019 - 10:57 pm - Link - Report abuse 0REF: Silence
Gives time to think clearly and rationally!
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