Argentine vice president appeals corruption charges

BUENOS AIRES: Argentina's Vice President Amado Boudou filed an appeal Thursday against charges of corruption allegedly carried out during his time as finance minister from 2009 to 2011.
Boudou, 51, is accused of bribery and "negotiations incompatible" with his position as a cabinet minister in buying a company that printed local currency. He is the first Argentine vice president to face such charges while in office.
"The judge's breach of all constitutional principles and guarantees is unacceptable," Boudou said in a brief filed to the federal court contesting the ruling by Judge Ariel Lijo.
"It has become evident that the judge never wanted the truth to be known, and had no interest in listening to me."
Boudou, charged last month while on an official visit to Cuba, has denied all the allegations, which center on a period in 2010.
He faces up to six years in prison and a 200,000 peso (US$24,000) fine.
As well as serving as finance minister, he ran as President Cristina Kirchner's vice president when she was re-elected to office in October 2011. – AFP