Court Clears Argentina's Menem

15/05/2001| IslamWeb

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (Islamweb & News Agencies) - Former president Carlos Menem was freed from house arrest on Tuesday, cleared by Argentina's Supreme Court of charges he ran an illicit arms smuggling ring while in office.
The decision to release the flamboyant, two-term president dealt a setback to efforts to prosecute Menem in one of several corruption scandals that tarnished his legacy in the final years of his decade in power.
Freedom also appeared to revive Menem's political fortunes, leaving him free to reassert his role as the country's pre-eminent opposition leader at a time when President Fernando De la Rua is growing increasingly unpopular for his handling of a deep economic crisis.
Menem's supporters in the Peronist party pounded on his black limousine and shouted ``justice has been done'' as the 71-year-old leader arrived at the suburban villa - his prison for the past six months - after a courthouse appearance where he was formally released.
The former president had no immediate comment, but his wife Cecilia Bolocco, a former Miss Universe, thanked the crowd for unwavering support. He was placed under house arrest June 7.
The ruling came hours after the Supreme Court dropped charges against Menem that alleged he ran arms smuggling operation during his presidency. Last week, a federal judge ordered that another charge, that Menem was involved in smuggling gunpowder, also be dismissed.
Menem has denied guilt since his arrest, which marked the first time he had been touched by the many corruption scandals that emerged during his 1989-1999 presidency.
Analysts said his return to public life would have an impact on Argentine politics, especially among the several prominent Peronist leaders who sought to oust Menem from his 10-year leadership of Argentina's largest political party.
Menem said he still wants to run again for president in 2003.
Although cleared of two major charges, Menem remains under scrutiny.
Menem and several of his top aides still face charges related to the investigation, including accusations of money laundering said to be linked to Swiss bank accounts in Menem's names. But none of those charges merit Menem remaining under house arrest, the ruling said.
Investigators are continuing to probe how some 6,500 tons of weapons officially listed as being bound for Panama and Venezuela ended up in Croatia and Ecuador. The shipments of cannons and gunpowder, valued at more than 100 million, reached those countries in violation of an international arms embargoes.
In an interview with The Associated Press while under house arrest, Menem insisted the arms sales were legal and that he was unaware the arms had been diverted. He also said the executive decrees he signed approving them do not provide grounds for a trial.