Argentina Court Probes Minister on Arms Sales

Argentina Court Probes Minister on Arms Sales

An Argentine judge has ordered Defense Minister Nilda Garre to be questioned over possible tax evasion in government weapons sales, in the latest corruption probe before October’s general election.
Garre said on Thursday she was not involved in any wrongdoing and called the court order politically motivated.
News of the summons came three days after Felisa Miceli was forced to resign as economy minister over an inquiry into some $60,000 found in a bag in her office.
In the arms case, a court is investigating whether a state-run company sold rifle parts to a U.S. company at prices well below the market rate. La Nacion newspaper reported the small, Connecticut-based company was owned by an Argentine.
The judge leading the probe is looking into allegations the weapons parts were undervalued to avoid customs taxes.
“I was summoned in writing to give information or evidence that I believe could help clarify the case,” Garre told reporters. “I don’t know what reasons the judge might have had, but anyone … can see that the Defense Ministry’s potential responsibility is completely overblown.”
The investigation garnered attention on the same day that the first lady, Sen. Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, was due to launch her presidential campaign.
Argentina’s election, scheduled for Oct. 28, is also for some provincial governors, legislators and other posts.
In May, President Nestor Kirchner fired two midlevel officials over alleged corruption on a government pipeline project. Another public works official resigned.
Earlier this month, Kirchner’s Cabinet chief was forced to publicly defend the environment secretary after a newspaper investigation accused her of hiring relatives and spending lavish amounts of government money.
Kirchner still enjoys high approval ratings despite the investigations and an unrelated energy crisis.
“We are in an electoral campaign, and it seems that some people believe any means can be used efficiently to sully a campaign that should be carried out with normality and respect,” Garre said.