Former Argentine senator receives prison sentence in Paraguay for concealed currency
A Paraguayan court imposed a two-year suspended prison sentence on Edgardo Kueider for attempting to cross the border with unreported money. His assistant was also sanctioned.
Former Argentine senator receives prison sentence in Paraguay for concealed currency
A criminal court in Paraguay imposed a sentence of two years' imprisonment, suspended, on Edgardo Kueider, a former Argentine legislator, for attempting to introduce a large sum of cash into the country without reporting it to the authorities. Iara Guinsel, who accompanied him, was sentenced to one year and ten months under the same procedural arrangement.
The decision came on Wednesday in Asunción, when the court composed of three judges unanimously determined that there was sufficient evidence of the offence. The amount detected exceeded 211,000 United States dollars, together with Argentine pesos and Paraguayan guaraníes.
The customs inspection procedure was carried out by chance on 4 December at the border crossing linking Brazil with Paraguay. Officials inspected the vehicle in which they were travelling and located the hidden funds. The defence attempted to argue that the cash did not constitute merchandise, a position that the judges completely rejected.
In his final argument, Kueider declared himself innocent, claimed to be the target of political persecution, and demanded a ruling that would restore his reputation. He also stated that his companion had been indirectly harmed by the legal dispute.
The sentence does not require the defendant to serve time in prison, although he must comply with certain conditions of behaviour imposed by the local judiciary.
The case is not the only one the politician faces in Paraguayan territory. Another file exists for alleged money laundering related to the acquisition of luxury properties in the Paraguayan capital valued at approximately 460,000 dollars.
In his country of origin, federal judge Sandra Arroyo Salgado is advancing an investigation into alleged improper enrichment and bribes linked to the private security company Securitas. Argentina has already authorised his extradition to the national authorities. The Senate removed him from his seat for lack of ethical suitability. Additionally, a court in San Isidro denied him provisional freedom, so any eventual return to the country would result in his immediate arrest.
_Source: Mercurio Noticias_
Source: Google News PY — Crime