Argentine VP faces charges of bribery

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — An Argentine judge has charged Vice President Amado Boudou with bribery and conducting business incompatible with public office in the acquisition of the company that prints the country’s currency, and of later benefiting from government contracts.

Boudou is accused of using shell companies and secret middlemen to gain control of the company that was given contracts to print the Argentine peso and campaign material for the ticket he shared with President Cristina Fernandez.

Federal judge Ariel Lijo also ordered an embargo on 200,000 pesos ($25,000) of Boudou’s property. He will remain free while he waits trial in the case along with five other defendants.

Boudou is the first sitting Argentine vice president to face such charges. He could be sentenced to between one and six years in prison, and a lifetime ban from elective office.

Boudou, on an official trip to Cuba, says he’s innocent of the accusations.

Many Argentines have questioned why Fernandez has remained loyal to her No. 2 when allegations have made him Argentina’s least popular politician, opponents are threatening to impeach him and some allies say he should resign. His falling fortunes have left the government without a clear presidential successor ahead of the 2015 elections. Fernandez has yet to speak publicly about the case.