Argentina: Key congressional Macri ally convicted and sentenced on corruption charges
Argentine Congresswoman Aída Ayala, a prominent member of President Mauricio Macri's right-wing "Let's Change" coalition, had an indictment on corruption charges upheld by a federal appeals court today.
Ayala, 65, had been indicted by Federal Judge Zunilda Niremperger on May 28 on money laundering and racketeering charges related to santiation contracts awarded during her 2003-15 tenure as mayor of Resistencia, the nation's 11th largest city.
The $30 million contract had been awarded by Ayala in 2014 to a shell company (PIMP S.A.) established for the purpose by her ex brother-in-law Alejandro Fischer, who placed his fiancée (a fashion model) and her mother as principals.
None have experience in waste management.
Judge Niremperger ordered Ayala arrested, as well as a lien placed on some 200 million pesos ($8 million at the time) in personal assets.
Double standard
Today's ruling upholds the May 28 sentence. Ayala has, however, been shielded by her parliamentary immunity.
Parliamentary immunity requires a two-thirds majority in the Lower House to revoke, and her "Let's Change" caucus has thus far used their narrow majority to block the vote from reaching the floor.
Macri's caucus has come under fire for shielding Ayala, one of his top allies in northern Argentina. Critics note the October 25, 2017, expulsion of opposition Congressman Julio de Vido on similar charges - albeit without yet having been convicted.
Indeed, one of the two charges on which de Vido was indicted - for alleged overpayment for imported natural gas during his 2003-15 tenure as Planning Minister under Macri's predecessor - was later dropped on March 8 on appeal for lack of merit.
The report on which the prosecution has based de Vido's indictment was found to be fabricated and the author of the report, David Cohen, later charged with giving false testimony.
The judge who had commissioned Cohen's report, Claudio Bonadío, is known as Macri's "napkin" (pocket) judge - a nickname he earned in 1996 when a top official under then-President Carlos Menem wrote his name on a café napkin as one of several judges Menem could count on as cronies.
Bonadío currently oversees many of the cases involving former President Kirchner or her cabinet, despite requirements that federal cases be radomly assigned by lot.
At: https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pagina12.com.ar%2F146753-cambiemos-y-el-dilema-del-desafuero&edit-text=
Congresswoman Aída Ayala and Macri during the 2015 campaign.
Ayala was convicted on Argentina's equivalent of RICO charges as head of a racketeering outfit run by three relatives.
Macri's "Let's Change" caucus has thus far refused to strip her of parliamentary immunity, as they have with an opposition congressman last year and are trying to do so with other opponents.
= new reply since forum marked as read
I remembered the name of the juez Claudio Bonadío. He's been dirty so long.
The expression on his face is really furtive. He looks as if he expect almost anything to happen to him as an act of revenge from someone he has abused from the bench.
I hope we get to hear what will become of Aída Ayala. She undoubtedly felt she had enough powerful friends in high places to protect her in her criminality.
Thanks for the information, sandensea. Have a great weekend.
