Jailed ex-vice-president Boudou gets more than two months shaved off sentence

Jailed former vice-president Amado Boudou has had more than two months shaved off his prison sentence handed out for crimes in the Ciccone Calcographic case.

Federal Oral Court No. 4 agreed Wednesday to reduce the former economy minister's prison sentence by almost three months. 

Judges Daniel Obligado and María Gabriela López Iñíguez accepted a request from lawyer Alejandro Rúa that time Boudou served under pre-trial detention in another related case should be counted towards his sentence. Judge Nestor Costabel opposed the reduction of the sentence but remained in the minority. 

Between November 3, 2017 and January 17, 2018, Boudou was placed in custody at the request of Federal Judge Ariel Lijo for alleged money-laundering charges, He later regained his freedom, although the investigation against him is still ongoing.

The former official's original sentence was five years and 10 months in prison. He can now expect to have two months and 14 days taken off that tally.

Boudou, who was VP to Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, was convicted in August last year of passive bribery charges and "negotiations incompatible with the public function," after it was proven in court that he used shell companies and secret middlemen to gain control of 70 percent of the Ciccone Calcográfica publishing house. The company, which was taken over by 'The Old Fund,' held contracts to print Argentine currency as well as material for former president Fernández de Kirchner's election campaign. 

The incarcerated former official has also been disqualified from holding a post in public office for life as part of his conviction.

– TIMES/NA/PERFIL