Lucia Salinas
06/21/2020 - 16:36
- Clarín.com
- Politics
The Federal Oral Court 2 (TOF 2) gave 72 hours to the 16 accused for the alleged direction in the public works, to rule on the proposal made: that the trial with Cristina Kirchner as the main accused, be resumed in a timely manner. semi face-to-face . The vice president in a four-page brief, presented by her lawyer, did not oppose the resumption of hearings and said that she will not allow any delay to fuel the idea of a "plan of impunity": Lázaro Báez had already opposed to this modality.
In the brief, the vice president accused the judges of being "impartial", again indicated that the accusation against her "is false" and requested the publicity of the case.
There were at least four exchanges between TOF 2 with the Council of the Magistracy - responsible for administering the funds of the Judiciary - who was asked to provide a virtual platform to resume the case that the judges of the tribunal made up of Jorge Gorini, Andrés Basso and Rodrigo Giménez Uriburu. Without specific dates on the part of the body that presides over Alberto Lugones and a last communication that recommended an inscription to require the online system, through an email, the Court decided to advance an intermediate proposal.
It was through a resolution in which he suggested the methodology of a "semi-face" trial. In the room there will only be, in addition to the judges, "the actuary and the person who is summoned to give a testimonial statement, and all the parties and other habitual participants in the debate will do so through the videoconference system that for this purpose will provide the Council of the Magistracy ".
For this to happen, all the accused, the complaints and the prosecution had to pronounce in favor or against, within three days. One of the first to respond was Cristina Kirchner through her lawyer Carlos Beraldi.
In the letter to which Clarín agreed, it was stated that unlike others involved in the case, the vice president "will not have to oppose the resumption of the debate semi-face-to-face." Lázaro Báez and former holder of National Roads Nelson Periotti opposed the trial being carried out again virtually.
Among other arguments, the defense of the former president stressed that although the semi-face-to-face modality, "does not sufficiently supply the general regulations of the debate enshrined in the criminal procedure," and that they will not admit a "possible delay in the restart of the trial "so that such a thing " be used to stir up false and malicious speculations aimed at confusing public opinion about the existence of an alleged "plan of impunity".
These words respond to the complaints made by the opposition regarding Cristina Kirchner's advance in key areas related to justice, which would have the purpose of guaranteeing her "impunity before her judicial scenario". The former president has eight cases brought to trial for corruption. Only the investigation where she was prosecuted as the head of an illicit association that would have directed 51 road contracts, for $ 46,000 million, in favor of Báez began to be judged.
The case carried by TOF 2 began its hearings on May 21, 2019, and following the Covid pandemic19, hearings that the judges are now seeking to resume were suspended.
In this context, in her brief, the vice president again criticized the Court that is in charge of the trial. Cristina Kirchner in her investigation on December 2 had already accused them of representing the "lawfare", of having previously condemned her and when they asked her if she was going to answer questions, she maintained: "You are going to have to answer questions, the story to me already cleared me. "
Along these same lines, in her brief she now accused the magistrates who judge her to be "impartial" and that in the framework of the trial hearings "the falsity of the accusations made will be demonstrated (that a democratic government elected by the people in three opportunities constituted an illicit association) ".
He also insisted that the charges against him "were falsely constructed from a true illicit association that, operating through what is now known as the judicial table, interfered and directed the development of each of the alleged judicial processes followed against political adversaries. Something that had never been seen in democratic times. "
By agreeing to resume the trial in a semi-face-to-face manner, the defense required "as an indispensable condition for the continuation of the process, that the principle of publicity, which is essential in any oral trial, be strictly adhered to." Therefore, it was requested that "the technical means necessary to guarantee that everything that happens at the hearing be followed by those who are interested" be arbitrated.