Former president Fernando de la Rúa is to present himself at a Comodoro Py Court, downtown Buenos Aires, today where he is expected to be grilled over the accusation of paying al least US$5 million in bribes to senators to pass a disputed labour reform bill in 2000.
The questioning started this morning with De la Rúa’s former parliament secretary Mario Pontaquarto, who confessed – “and regretted” – having delivered the bribes to at least three senators as following the former president’s orders.
Pontaquarto has confessed picking up US$5 million from the State’s Intelligence Service (former SIDE current SI) headquarters, and giving US$4 million to senator Emilio Cantarero, and US$1 million to José Genoud.
Seventy-four-year-old De La Rúa who fled the Government House in a helicopter during the country’s economic crisis critical moments in 2001 faces up to ten years if found guilty of the bribery charges.
Questioning started around 11.30am with Pontaquatro and is to be followed by De La Rúa testimony.
Source: Buenos Aires Herald