Menem sentenced to seven years in prison for smuggling weapons

Argentina’s Former President Carlos Menem (R)

Former president of Argentina, Carlos Menem, was sentenced yesterday to seven years in prison for the illegal sale of 600 tons of arms to Ecuador and Croatia.

The ruling was issued 18 years after the initial cause. It began in March 1995, with a complaint agiainst lawyer Ricardo Monner Sans. He was accused of sending arms to Croatia in 1991, backed by two secret decrees signed by Menem and several of his ministers.

Another small part of the 600 tons of weapons were secretly sent to Ecuador, in 1995, during its war with Peru, although Argentina was the guarantor of peace of the confrontation. There were seven shipments to Croatia and three to Ecuador.

Menem, current senator of 82 years old, did not show up yesterday to the courtroom for health reasons and also didn’t attend the meetings of the Senate. The court that sentenced him yesterday called for his impeachment so he can serve the sentence. Menem is able to appeal.