BUENOS AIRES, Argentina -- A former Argentine economy minister was sentenced Thursday to four years in prison for corruption.
Felisa Miceli was forced to quit in 2007 when Argentine pesos and U.S. dollars' worth the combined equivalent of $52,000 were found in her office bathroom.
The unanimous ruling said Miceli
was guilty of the "aggravated cover up" on an illegal financial maneuver
and obstruction of justice for getting rid of a police report about the
money. The local court also ruled that Miceli will be barred from
holding any public office position for eight years.
The money was found by the
federal police's explosives unit in a closet inside the office bathroom
while they were inspecting the economy ministry.
Miceli served under President Cristina Fernandez's husband and predecessor, former President Nestor Kirchner.
Throughout the trial, she claimed her innocence and said the money had
been a loan by her brother and friend to buy a property and that she had
temporarily placed in her office bathroom until she could deposit it in
a bank.
"It was clear throughout the
trial that there's no convincing evidence," Miceli told reporters after
the court ruling. "I made a mistake but now it seems like it's a crime."
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