Argentine Former President Menem Banned From Traveling AbroadArgentine former President Carlos Menem was banned from traveling abroad Thursday by a federal judge for his alleged involvement in illegal arms sales to Croatia and Ecuador in the early 1990s, Argentine television reports said.Menem was among more than 40 suspects covered by the travel ban proposed by federal judge Jorge Urso to the Interior Ministry Thursday. Menem, who will appear in court on July 13, can only go abroad with permission from judicial authorities. The ban came as Menem was purportedly planning to travel abroad after his wedding on Saturday. Menem earlier affirmed that he would go to court to defend himself as requested by the judge. He again strongly denied there were any irregularities in the arms shipments. Antoni Erman Gonzalez, former defense minister in the Menem administration, along with a former close aide of Menem, were arrested earlier on charges of illegally selling weapons and ammunition to Croatia and Ecuador between 1991 and 1995. If convicted, Gonzalez could face up to 12 years behind bars. The scandal involved some 46 former officials of the Menem administration, who were suspected of running an illegal arms smuggling network. |
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