Mario Pontaquarto, one of the accused in the Congress kickbacks scandal of 2000, whose trial was supposed to start tomorrow but got suspended, repeated today that Vice President Carlos “Chacho” Alvarez «was not aware of the bribes”, and that the deal was clinched by then Radical Party’s Senator José Genoud; Inteligent Service Chief, Fernando de Santibañes; Labour Minister, Alberto Flamarique; and President Fernando de la Rúa.
“Chacho knew nothing about the deal going on between Genoud, Santibañes, Flamarique, and De la Rúa, in which I was designated to do the bribes delivery.”
The scandal came into light on April. 26 of 2000 when Pontacuarto showed up at court to reveal the scandal and testifying against him.
In radio conversations, Pontaquarto said that he has a special 24/7 police guard that has been intensified as the trial approaches.
Asked about the case and what can be the final sentences, the conscience-stricken man told reporters “I don’t have any certainties, but I’m hopeful there will be sentences. I know that justice will be made, “and added, “Anyway, for me it’s a close case as the truth is openly known already.”
With regard his personal participation in the case, Pontaquarto remembered “Genoud gave me 4.3 million dollars. Then I was given the order of delivering them to the house of Peronist Senator Emilio Cantarero, so that he could break it among the other Peronist senators.”
Source: Buenos Aires Herald