News of corruption

Ecuador corruption

Ex-Ecuador president Abdalá Bucaram detained in Covid-19 corruption raid

04-06-2020 14:09 Prosecutors in Ecuador carried out 37 raids Wednesday in Guayaquil and the capital of Quito, detaining 17 people suspected of overcharging for supplies, influence peddling and criminal organisation.

'El Presidente'

FIFA 'mafia' depicted in new Amazon Prime satire from Argentine creator

04-06-2020 01:44 New series "El Presidente," brought to life by Argentine writer Armando Bo, is a witheringly satirical take on the 2015 "Fifagate" corruption scandal. Oh, and it's 'narrated' by Julio Grondona, from beyond the grave...

AS I SEE IT

Under cover of darkness

30-05-2020 10:43 Alberto has shown no signs of wanting to be his own man, whoever he may be. Far from rebelling against Cristina’s tutelage, he seems afraid to do anything that might displease her.

by James Neilson

Corruption

Spread of coronavirus fuels corruption in Latin America

27-05-2020 13:20 Even amid a global pandemic, there’s no sign that corruption is slowing down in Latin America. Perhaps the biggest case is in Bolivia, where the health minister was arrested amid allegations that officials bought 170 ventilators at inflated prices.

ISRAEL

Israel PM Netanyahu arrives at court for 'unprecendented' corruption trial

24-05-2020 08:52 Fresh from forming a new government after more than 500 days of electoral deadlock, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu is beginning a new battle in a court Jerusalem – to stay out of prison.

KEY STORIES

May 9th-16th: What we learned this week

16-05-2020 09:09 Stories that caught our eye in the last seven days.

EDITORIAL

Throwing stones from a glass house?

16-05-2020 08:57 The institutional monstrosity of allowing governments to choose anti-corruption officials entirely in the presidential (or vice-presidential) pocket puts both sides on the same sordid level.

CORRUPTION & THE COURTS

Opposition outcry as Anti-Corruption Office withdraws from CFK graft case

15-05-2020 15:38 Argentina’s Anti-Corruption Office says it is withdrawing as a plaintiff in the Hotesur and Los Sauces hotels money-laundering case involving Vice-President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner and her two children.

CORRUPTION & THE COURTS

Court orders re-activation of corruption cases, federal crimes

29-04-2020 18:15 Criminal Cassation Court orders revival of all federal cases where there are arrests including corruption, crimes against humanity, slavery and drug-trafficking, saying it wants to avoid "the passage of time becoming a denial of justice."

CORRUPTION & THE COURTS

Ex-VP Boudou, jailed for corruption offences, granted house arrest

07-04-2020 18:44 Court granted house arrest to Boudou, who was vice-president during the second presidential term of Cristina Fernández de Kirchner from 2011 to 2015.

LAWFARE AND GOVERNMENT

Lawfare reloaded: Cristina, Macri & Alberto

07-03-2020 10:25 It is imperative that corruption accusations are investigated thoroughly, both under the Kirchner and Macri administrations. Grave accusations are thrown around loosely in Argentina, yet there are few instances in which they have actually gone to trial.

by Agustino Fontevecchia

CORRUPTION & THE COURTS

Courts probe cases involving ex-Macri administration officials

07-03-2020 09:49 Ex-VP Gabriela Michetti accused of defrauding state; Macri, Alonso and Aranguren also in spotlight.

CORRUPTION & THE COURTS

Court orders ex-planning minister Julio de Vido's release

05-03-2020 14:11 Court orders veteran Veteran Kirchnerite official and ex-federal planning minister's release, saying he has been "detained for a period longer than the maximum legal term of two years."

INVESTIGATION

Barros Schelotto, Tevez linked to Macri family wind farm business

28-02-2020 08:00 Former Boca Juniors coach Guillermo Barros Schelotto and star forward Carlos Tevez contributed nearly US$18 million to Macri’s family business, Sideco Americana, which in 2016 acquired six wind farms – purchases that are now being investigated by the courts.

by Emilia Delfino

As I see it

Political unprisoners

23-02-2020 16:53 The notion that some people are entitled to remain above the law is shared, or regarded as unimportant, by such a large proportion of the electorate that disabusing it seems well-nigh impossible.

by James Neilson

WHISTLEBLOWERS

Website for Latin American whistleblowers launched

20-02-2020 17:45 A secure internet site designed to "train whistleblowers" as well as to facilitate anonymous complaints of corruption and damage to the environment in Latin America where they often face retaliation.

CORRUPTION & THE COURTS

Fernández revokes Macri decree creating witness protection agency

20-02-2020 16:51 DNU, issued in final days of Macri's time in office, would have seen responsibilities for witness protection taken away from Justice Ministry in favour of a specialist, autonomous agency.

CORRUPTION

Selective amnesia, ‘lawfare’ and ‘political prisoners’

15-02-2020 09:47 What was originally a small headache is escalating to migraine status for President Fernández. Internal fissures between the fringe fanatical Kirchnerites and more moderate Peronists has reached the top levels of governments

by Agustino Fontevecchia

Kirchners in Cuba

CFK shares first photo with daughter Florencia in Havana

11-02-2020 12:20 Vice-president shares first image in months of her filmmaker daughter, who has been in Cuba for nearly one year receiving medical treatment.

Democracy on Trial

Ecuador puts ex-president on trial for campaign finance fraud

10-02-2020 12:30 Former president Rafael Correa, who is currently living in Belgium, maintains that the lawsuit is an attempt to bar him from running for a legislative position in next year's elections.

Democracy in Crisis

Peru's Fujimori hospitalized for neurological and lung issues

04-02-2020 14:19 His last public statement came five days ago, when his daughter, Keiko Fujimori, was sentenced to 15 months in prison for corruption charges.

Odebrecht Corruption

Peru court orders Keiko Fujimori to return to prison

30-01-2020 11:21 Citing new evidence and concern that opposition leader is a 'flight risk,' a judge ordered that she be preventatively detained for period of 15 months.

RETURN TO FOOTBALL

Mauricio Macri lands new job as president of FIFA Foundation

28-01-2020 12:53 Former president agrees to take up post leading independent branch of football's governing body, which has been blighted by corruption scandals for years.

CORRUPTION & THE COURTS

Federal judge acquits Oyarbide in 'Cuadernos' graft case

09-01-2020 18:03 In related news, Claudio Bonadio acquits Guillermo Dietrich, Horacio Rodríguez Larreta and others of allegations regarding overpriced contracts for the construction of the Paseo del Bajo underpass.

CORRUPTION & THE COURTS

Rulings deliver mixed blessings for Kirchners in the courts

02-01-2020 19:52 Vice-President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner committed to trial for alleged misallocation of public works contracts, while her son Máximo Kirchner was acquitted of campaign-funding irregularities.

Corruption & The Courts

De Vido and Baratta released from prison to house arrest

15-12-2019 11:53 Two ex-Kirchnerite officials were released from detention late Friday night, after a ruling ordered they be committed to house arrest and wear ankle-monitoring bracelets.

Corruption & the courts

Fernández de Kirchner angrily denies graft claims as she testifies in court

02-12-2019 18:21 Former president made an unusual detour Monday on her way back to office, appearing in court to defend herself angrily against corruption charges stemming from her time in office.

COCAINE RING

Hearings open in case of Russian cocaine ring in Argentina

29-11-2019 20:43 Preliminary hearing begins in Moscow regarding a case of an international drug smuggling ring which was uncovered in a joint sting operation by Argentine and Russian authorities in Buenos Aires.

CORRUPTION & THE COURTS

Fernández de Kirchner to face trial on alleged 'misuse' of presidential aircraft

29-11-2019 13:32 Vice-president-elect also asks that her statements in her trial for public works corruption in Santa Cruz Province be transmitted live.

CORRUPTION & THE COURTS

Laura Alonso tells judge she ‘never covered up an infraction by Aranguren’

29-11-2019 13:26 Head of government’s Anti-Corruption Office appears before federal judge Luis Rodríguez as part of investigation into conflict-of-interest case.

CORRUPTION & THE COURTS

From prison, jailed Kirchnerites call for ‘Christmas without political prisoners’

26-11-2019 19:00 De Vido, Boudou, D'Elia, Milagro Sala among group of Kirchnerites facing legal woes. Group calls on followers to march to Comodoro Py courthouse on Thursday, November 28.

PRIME MINISTER

Israel’s Netanyahu charged in corruption cases

21-11-2019 15:15 Israel's attorney general charged Netanyahu with fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes in three different scandals. This is unprecedented, marking the first time a sitting prime minister has been charged with a crime.

LAVA JATO

Brazilian police seek arrest of former Paraguay president Horacio Cartes

20-11-2019 15:03 Brazilian police are seeking the arrest of Cartes as part of an investigation into kickbacks and money-laundering. Federal prosecutors said Tuesday that former president is among 20 suspects being sought by Brazilian police.

TRUMP

New revelation at historic Trump impeachment hearing

13-11-2019 17:48 Trump said he “cared more about the investigations of Joe Biden” than about Ukraine in overheard phone, according to top US diplomat.

EX-PRESIDENT FREED

Lula vows to ‘continue fighting’ after judge frees him from jail

09-11-2019 08:36 Alberto Fernández and Cristina Fernández de Kirchner hail former Brazil president, who is freed from jail after benefitting from a Supreme Court ruling.

BRAZIL EX-LEADER

Brazil's Supreme Court issues ruling that could free jailed ex-president Lula

08-11-2019 10:14 Brazil's top court votes narrowly that a person can only be jailed after all appeals to high courts have been exhausted, a decision that could see almost 5,000 inmates released, including Lula.

CRISTINA & THE COURTS

Courts loom large over Cristina Fernández de Kirchner’s comeback

02-11-2019 09:48 Vice-president-elect will likely take office with at least 10 cases investigating alleged corruption offences open against her. How will these be affected by Alberto Fernández’s approach to the courts?

by Luciana Bertoia

CORRUPTION & THE COURTS

Jailed ex-VP Amado Boudou gets more than two months shaved off sentence

30-10-2019 14:05 In majority ruling, judges agree time served under pre-trial arrest in a related case should be counted towards near- six-year sentence handed down in Ciccone Calcographic case.

CORRUPTION & THE COURTS

Courts drops two charges against Fernández de Kirchner, proceeds with another

30-10-2019 08:00 Vice-president-elect remains under investigation in number of probes related to alleged corruption during her government. She denies all the claims against her.

'CUADERNOS' CASE

Famed notebooks detailing alleged Kirchnerite corruption reappear

24-10-2019 14:51 La Nación journalist Diego Cabot, who originally broke the story on public works bribery ring dating back to Kirchner years, turns over notebooks detailing corruption to authorities, after a stranger delivers them to him. Initial reports suggested they had been destroyed.

ELECTION 2019

Macri and Fernández trade blows in aggressive second debate

21-10-2019 03:04 More aggressive tone to second and last debate in Buenos Aires, as President Macri links rival to corrupt Kirchnerite officials and Peronist rival hits back, citing president's family. Left-winger Del Caño the pick of other four candidates.

by James Grainger

CHUBUT DEBT CRISIS

No end in sight to Chubut’s debt crisis as workers pay price

12-10-2019 11:23 Driven by crushing provincial debt and economic mismanagement, public workers in Chubut are on strike as they face the second so-called “staggered pay” situation in two years.

by Lucas Robinson

OPINION AND ANALYSIS

Brazilian football is on the road to self-destruction

11-10-2019 08:00 A conspiracy of blunders and malfeasance by professional football’s elite handlers has squandered talent and left Brazil's cherished national institution in shambles.

by Mac Margolis

COMODORO PY

Bonadio orders Cristóbal López and Fabián De Sousa be released from jail

08-10-2019 13:59 Incarcerated Grupo Indalo businessmen to be set free, most likely later today, after posting bail of 60 million pesos.

SUPREME COURT

Ex-Colombia president Álvaro Uribe questioned on witness tampering

08-10-2019 13:32 Colombia's powerful former president appears before Supreme Court for questioning in a case involving alleged witness tampering.

FIFA CORRUPTION SCANDAL

FIFA bans Uruguayan former vice-president for life for taking bribes

02-10-2019 13:42 FIFA says its ethics committee found Eugenio Figueredo guilty of taking bribes in 2004 and 2015 linked to commercial deals for South American competitions.

Political turmoil

Peru President Vizcarra dissolves Congress, calls fresh elections

01-10-2019 09:18 Peru lurches into new period of political uncertainty after Martín Vizcarra dissolves opposition-controlled congress and calls new elections in anti-corruption row.

CORRUPTION CHARGES

Bonadio closes 'Cuadernos' probe, sends Fernández de Kirchner for trial

20-09-2019 18:10 Corruption charges come under framework of 'Cuadernos' case, one of Argentina's most high-profile graft probes to date, which Bonadio closed yesterday and sent to trial.

LAVA JATO

Bachelet denies claims her campaign took cash from disgraced Brazilian firm

18-09-2019 17:04 Bachelet told Chile's 24 Horas TV channel late Monday from Geneva that she "never had any link with OAS or any other company," in reference to allegations.

HUMAN RIGHTS

Carrió calls for elderly dictatorship-era criminals to be freed from jail

17-09-2019 16:29 Outspoken national lawmaker says those 'dying in prison' convicted of crimes against humanity should be freed from jail, adding that ex-planning minister Julio De Vido should also be freed.