Prosecutors seek 8 years for Menem

Public prosecutors requested that a criminal court hand down an eight-year prison sentence on senator and former president Carlos Menem for his involvement in smuggling weapons to Ecuador and Croatia between 1991 and 1995.

During closing statements in court, public prosecutors Mariano Borinsky and Marcelo Agüero Vera also requested a prison term of eight years for Menem’s co-accused Diego Palleros, seven years for former defence minister Oscar Camilión and presidential advisor Emir Yoma and three years for the former head of the Argentine Air Force, Juan Paulik.

The prosecution also asked the court to investigate the alleged perjury by the former head of the Army and current Argentine ambassador in Colombia, Martín Balza, and a woman who allegedly collaborated with Yoma.