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Former Argentine President Arrested for Arms Sales Scandal
Former Argentine President Carlos Menem was arrested Thursday by a federal judge investigating the illegal arms sales by his government during the 1990s, local media reported.
Cesar Arias, a close ally of Menem and member of his Justicialist Party, made the announcement shortly after the ex- president arrived for questioning before federal judge Jorge Urso on arms sales to Croatia and Ecuador between 1991 and 1995.
Menem is suspected by Urso of heading an "illegal group" that organized the sale of 6,500 tons of weapons between 1991 and 1995.
The weapons were officially destined for Panama and Venezuela but ended up in Croatia and Ecuador respectively.
Judge Jorge Urso has cited Menem in connection with his investigation into "an illicit organization" that sold weapons to the two countries while sales were banned.
If charged and convicted, Menem could be sentenced to between three and 10 years of house arrest. He would avoid jail because of his age.
Menem, 70, has maintained his innocence and declared to reporters he was "confident in the judicial system" and was "very relaxed" as he entered the courthouse to answer Urso's questioning.
Menem has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, saying the sales were done "absolutely legally" and claiming he was the victim of a "political persecution."
Hundreds of Menem supporters crowded outside a federal courthouse where Menem, accompanied by his new bride, the former miss universe Ceceilia Bolocco, 36, of Chile, arrived early Thursday to testify.
On Monday, Menem was denied permission by Urso to travel from June 6-26 to Paris and Syria, the homeland of his parents, to spend honeymoon with his bride.
Menem, who served two consecutive terms that ended in December 1999, closed out his presidency amid swirling accusations of rampant corruption in his administration.
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