26/06/2026 15:38 - Judiciales
According to Clarín, one of Argentina's leading newspapers, Federal Judge Ariel Lijo has elevated the money laundering investigation against Cristina Fernández de Kirchner's former accountant to oral trial. This case is directly linked to the notorious 'Notebooks of Bribes' scandal that shocked the nation.
For international readers unfamiliar with Argentine politics, the 'Cuadernos de las Coimas' (Notebooks of Bribes) represents one of the largest corruption scandals in Latin American history. The case exploded in 2018 when Oscar Centeno, a driver for a government official, revealed handwritten notebooks where he meticulously documented alleged bribe payments to Kirchner administration officials between 2005 and 2015.
The notebooks contained detailed records including names, amounts, dates, and locations of supposed kickbacks, primarily connected to public infrastructure projects. The scandal implicated dozens of businesspeople and officials, including former President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, who served as Argentina's president from 2007 to 2015.
Cristina Fernández de Kirchner is a central figure in Argentine politics. She served as President of Argentina from 2007 to 2015, succeeding her late husband Néstor Kirchner. She later became Vice President from 2019 to 2023. Throughout her political career, she has faced multiple corruption allegations, making her one of the most controversial figures in contemporary Argentine politics.
The defendant in this specific case served as her personal accountant and is accused of participating in money laundering operations derived from the bribery scheme documented in Centeno's notebooks.
In Argentina, federal cases proceed through three stages: investigation (instrucción), elevation to oral trial, and the trial itself before a tribunal of three judges. Judge Lijo's decision marks the transition from investigation to the final trial phase.
The 'Notebooks of Bribes' investigation has spawned multiple derivative cases advancing at different paces within Argentina's federal justice system. Major construction companies including Isolux, Fainser, Sacde/IECSA, and Esuco are among those investigated for alleged fund extraction from public works projects.
This judicial progress demonstrates Argentina's ongoing efforts to address systemic corruption, though the process has been lengthy. Multiple cases continue moving through the courts, representing a significant test for the country's justice system.
Source: Clarín - Política (Argentina) | This case represents ongoing efforts to combat corruption in Argentine public administration.
Alfredo S. Quiroga
