Argentinian ex-spy accused of tax fraud as allegations swirl in Fernández scandal
Argentinian ex-spy accused of tax fraud as allegations swirl in Fernández scandal
Former intelligence agent Antonio Stiuso has been in the spotlight since death of Alberto Nisman, who was investigating 1994 bombing of Jewish centre
Agence France-Presse in Buenos Aires
Tuesday 24 February 2015 15.19 EST
A powerful ex-spy linked to explosive allegations against the Argentinian president, Cristina Fernández de Kirchner has been accused by the government of running a smuggling ring and committing tax fraud.The former intelligence agent, Antonio Stiuso, has been in the spotlight since the mysterious death last month of prosecutor Alberto Nisman, whose investigation into a 1994 bombing at a Jewish center in Buenos Aires had turned its sights on the president.
Fernández has accused Stiuso of feeding false information to Nisman, who was found with a gunshot to the head on the eve of congressional hearings where the prosecutor was due to accuse the president of protecting Iranian officials implicated in the bombing in exchange for oil.
The saga took another twist Tuesday as the new head of Argentinian intelligence announced the government had brought charges against Stiuso and two active-duty agents of leading a “substantial contraband operation” within the country’s Intelligence Secretariat (SI).
The SI chief, Oscar Parrilli, whom Fernández named to his post in December, said the ring had used Miami-based companies to bring undeclared medical equipment and electronics into Argentina, but did not say how much the goods were worth.
More:
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/feb/24/argentina-spy-tax-fraud-kirchner