Argentina's former President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner will stand trial in a major corruption case. The Supreme Court has cleared the way for the 'Notebooks' investigation, described as the most extensive corruption probe in the country's judicial history. The trial is set to begin this Thursday and will be held virtually. Kirchner is accused of leading a criminal ring that solicited illegal funds through bribes related to public works contracts. A total of 86 individuals are implicated, including 19 former officials and 65 businesspeople. The investigation will also look into the responsibility of other officials, including coordination with former Cabinet Chief Juan Manuel Abal Medina.
Key figures in the 'Notebooks' case:
The main defendant: Cristina Fernández de Kirchner. The court will seek to clarify: the alleged payments to businessmen recorded by driver Oscar Centeno; the alleged illicit maneuvers in the awarding of railway and road corridor contracts; and the possible cartelization of public works. Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, 72, will face trial as the head of a potential criminal organization that operated from the Executive Branch between 2003 and 2015. She is accused of being the co-author of the crime of passive bribery.
The Prosecution: The case is led by Prosecutor Fabián León, who highlighted the magnitude of the process: "We believe that this case (actually a set of cases) requires a special need for explanations because, in our view, it is the most extensive investigation of corruption facts that has been carried out in the history of Argentine justice and comparable to only a few worldwide."
The Tribunal: The judges overseeing the trial are Fernando Canero, Enrique Méndez Signori, and Germán Castelli.
Collaborators: The tribunal has admitted the full files of 25 collaborating defendants, whose confessions are now part of the trial. The complete list of these individuals has also been published.
Businessmen seeking a deal: This Friday, a group of accused businessmen will participate in a key hearing via Zoom. The list includes: Oscar Centeno (former driver and author of the notebooks), Jorge Neira (of Electroingeniería), Carlos Wagner (former President of the Construction Chamber), Enrique Pescarmona (of Impsa), and many others.
