Former Argentine President Testifies for Weapons Sales ScandalArgentina's former president, Carlos Menem, testified Tuesday before a Buenos Aires court on his involvement in the illegal shipment of arms to Croatia and Ecuador.Menem was taken to court by a helicopter from a luxurious estate on the outskirts of Buenos Aires, where he has been under house arrest since June 7. Menem is indicted for heading an illegal gun-running organization shipping Argentine-made weapons to Croatia and Ecuador between 1991 and 1995, when these were supposedly being sent to Panama and Venezuela. Besides Menem, his former brother-in-law Emir Yoma, former defense minister Antonio Erman and the former Army chief Martin Balza are also under arrest. Menem, 70, arrived at the court accompanied by his wife, former TV hostess and ex-Miss Universe Cecilia Bolocco, 36. Menem faces a prison term of 5-10 years if found guilty. |
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