Argentina faces export bribery accusations
According to former Argentine ambassador to Venezuela, Eduardo Sadous, local businessmen had to pay kickbacks to former president Néstor Kirchner to be able to export their goods to Venezuela.
Opposition Deputy Elisa Carrió (Civic Coalition-Federal Capital) had come to light and stressed the bribes paid by the local businessmen amounted to 25% of their exports. "Fifteen percent went to Caracas, Venezuela and 10% to Argentina, where the money went directly to Kirchner," she said. The Civic Coalition has sued the former president, charging him with establishing a "criminal association" with Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez.
The government downplays all allegations and defends itself, while opposition members see the case as the perfect excuse to reload and fire heavy ammunition against pro-ruling party members.
Interior Minister Florencio Randazzo stated that "I haven't seen a single businessman who had come out to ratify what Sadous said," the minister said.
Randazzo also justified the existence of mediators at international deals level, "it's a very common practice within the international trade world."
Cabinet Chief AnÃbal Fernández, in turn, said in a radio interview that the courts must probe the allegations.
Vice President Julio Cleto Cobos, echoed the controversial case and considered that all bribery allegations "must be investigated."
Meanwhile, Venezuelan businessman Guido Alejandro Antonini Wilson, who is accused of having tried to enter the country (August 2007) with a briefcase that held US$800,000, told a local tabloid that former head of the Occovi agency Claudio Uberti "had set an office in Caracas just to collect kickbacks."
