Legal proceedings against former Argentine president get underway

Argentina's former President Cristina Fernandez was charged on Friday for irregularities in her government's handling of the dollar futures market, according to the Judicial Information Center.

The measure corresponds to the investigation into foreign exchange operations known as the "Future Dollars Case" carried out by Argentina's Central Bank (BCRA) in 2015.

As well as Fernandez's case, federal judge Claudio Bonadio also began legal proceedings against former economy minister and current national deputy, Axel Kiciloff, and against the former head of the BCRA, Alejandro Vanoli. Proceedings were also started against 12 other accused people.

The case came into the public eye when legislators from the political coalition Cambiemos, led by Argentina's current President Mauricio Macri, made a complaint.

The investigation targets billions of U.S. dollars worth of money lost in the BCRA through operations carried out in the last stretch of Fernandez's mandate.

"It is unthinkable that a financial operation of this magnitude ... which will have clear economic and political effects in the immediate future, can be carried out without the approval of the highest level of the government," said Bonadio.

"It is evident that the former president gave instructions -- that without doubt were devised together -- to her economy minister so that this financial operation could go ahead," added the judge.

On April 13, Fernandez came before Bonadio and afterwards she presented a written statement rejecting all accusations.

"They can call upon me 20 more times. They can put me in prison but what they can't do is make me quiet," said the former president.

The case is running alongside another investigation into alleged money laundering which also involves Fernandez's late husband and predecessor, Nestor Kirchner. Endi