Argentina requests extradition of former President
Argentina formally requested that Chile extradite former President Carlos Menem to face corruption charges.
Argentine Judge Jorge Urso, who requested the extradition, has been investigating alleged misuse of funds allocated for the construction of two jails during the Menem administration. He acted after the ex-president failed twice to appear before him for legal questioning.
Menem, whose 1989-99 presidency was marred by accusations of corruption, has been living in Chile for around three and a half months, and has failed to heed several summons to appear in court at home in two cases of alleged corruption.
He had been living in Chile intermittently for about a year before then with his Chilean wife, former Miss Universe Cecilia Bolocco, and their five-month old son.
The Chilean Foreign Ministry said the request was officially delivered by an Argentine diplomat yesterday. The Ministry must now relay the request to the Supreme Court for a decision. The legal process may take several months.
Menem is also being investigated for allegedly failing to report to local tax officials about a Swiss account reportedly containing $600,000 (around €502,000).
In an interview with The Associated Press earlier this month, Menem said the account was opened in 1986 in the name of his children, with funds he received in a settlement with the Argentine state for his imprisonment during a past military regime.
He said that “because the money has not been touched for years,” the account has grown to around $600,000 (€502,000) with interest.
Swiss officials have blocked the account while the investigation develops.
Menem has also refused to appear before the investigating judge, claiming that the accusations against him are baseless, and part of a political persecution. He has offered to talk to the judges in Chile.
Menem has requested a one-year extension of his visa.
The Chilean government has said Menem does not qualify for political asylum.
