Former Argentine President Cristina Fernandez was indicted on Tuesday on charges she ran a corruption scheme with a public works secretary who was arrested in June while trying to stash millions of dollars in a convent.

A federal judge accused them and other officials of the Fernandez administration of crimes "including the deliberate seizure of funds principally meant for public road works."

Corruption charges have long swirled around Fernandez and her husband and predecessor, the late Nestor Kirchner. She denies wrongdoing and accuses Argentina's current leader, Mauricio Macri, of using the courts to persecute her.

The country was riveted in June when Fernandez's former public works secretary, Jose Lopez, was arrested while tossing bags stuffed with millions of dollars over the walls of a Catholic convent on the outskirts of Buenos Aires.</s>The former Argentinian president Cristina Fernández de Kirchner was indicted on Tuesday in a corruption case involving public works.

Federal judge Julian Ercolini approved charges of illicit association and fraudulent administration against Fernández, and two former aides: ex-planning minister Julio de Vido and former public works secretary José López.

Also named was businessman Lázaro Báez, whose Austral Construcciones company allegedly benefited from irregular contracts.

The judge’s order froze the equivalent of up to $633m of each defendant’s assets, though it was not clear they have that much.

The ruling published by official Center of Judicial Information said the defendants are accused of associating to illegally take public funds meant for public works between May 2003 and December 2015.

Fernández made no immediate comment on the charge, but she has repeatedly denied wrongdoing.

Since leaving office in December 2015, Fernández has alleged that she is the victim of persecution by her conservative successor, Mauricio Macri.

In May, a judge indicted Fernández on charges of manipulating currency exchange futures markets, allegedly causing economic damage to the government.</s>Former Argentine President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner was charged with corruption Tuesday and had $643 million of her assets frozen, according to state-run news agency Télam.

A judge indicted Fernández de Kirchner along with 11 others on illicit association, for allegedly directing public road works to a company called Austral Constructions during her presidency.

The judge formally presented the charges of corruption, illicit association and aggravated fraudulent administration, against the former president along with her former minister of planning Julio De Vido, former secretary of public works José López and businessman Lázaro Báez of Austral Constructions.

The illicit association could carry up to 10 years imprisonment, Télam reported.

Fernández de Kirchner is not under arrest, but remains under investigation. She can appeal the process, wait for the end of the investigation or see whether the judge decides to send her to trial.

Former government official, Lopez is currently in jail and will be tried after being caught trying to bury bags of cash containing $9 million underneath a monastery earlier this year.

Fernández de Kirchner, a leftist, termed out and left the presidency in December last year. She has previously denied any wrongdoing and has alleged that she was being targeted by her conservative successor, Mauricio Macri.

In a Facebook post Tuesday, Fernández de Kirchner implied she was the target of persecution, although she did not specify anyone in particular.

She is also on trial in another corruption case, dubbed “dolar futuro” by the media in Argentina, in which she is accused of allegedly meddling with the sale of US dollars by the nation’s central bank.</s>Cristina Fernandez, President of Argentina from 2007 to 2015, was indicted Tuesday on corruption charges. She has denied all allegations, arguing they are politically motivated.

MORE DETAILS TO COME</s>BUENOS AIRES—A judge indicted ex-President Cristina Kirchner on corruption charges involving public works and ordered millions of dollars of her assets to be frozen, escalating the legal troubles facing the former Argentine leader.

Investigative Judge Julián Ercolini approved trying Mrs. Kirchner, along with several former aides and a businessman, for alleged racketeering and administrative fraud in connection with road projects in...</s>Former Argentine President Cristina Kirchner was indicted by a judge on Tuesday over corruption allegations tied to public works projects during her administration.</s>The former president of Argentina, Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, has been indicted for corruption linked with public works contracts. A judge also approved charges against a businessman and two former ministers....</s>The former President of Argentina, Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, has been charged with corruption.

She was formally accused of fraudulent administration and illicit association after the charges were approved by a federal judge.

Two former aides, ex-Planning Minister Julio de Vido and former Public Works Secretary Jose Lopez, have also been charged.

It is alleged Ms Fernandez’s government gave public contracts to Lázaro Báez, a businessman who is close to her family.

A total of 52 contracts worth approximately $2.9bn (£2.4bn) were assigned to Mr Baez's companies at prices that averaged 15 per cent above the original budget.

The judge’s order froze the equivalent of up to $633m (£516m) of each defendant's assets.

Ms Fernandez did not make an immediate comment on the charge, but has repeatedly denied wrongdoing and invited an audit of public works contracts during her administration.

There is a possible 10-year prison sentence for illicit association, while fraudulent administration can lead to six years behind bars.

Ms Fernandez was indicted in May on charges of causing economic damage to the government by manipulating currency exchange future markets.

Since leaving office in December 2015, Ms Fernandez has claimed she is the victim of persecution by her successor, Mauricio Macri.</s>Cristina Kirchner accused of corruption and slapped with $630m asset freeze linked to government contracts.

Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, the former Argentine president, has been charged in a corruption case and slapped with a $630m asset freeze over public tenders awarded to a businessman friend during her administration.

Federal judge Julian Ercolini approved charges on Tuesday of illicit association and fraudulent administration against Fernandez and two of her erstwhile aides: Julio de Vido, ex-planning minister, and Jose Lopez, former public works secretary.

Also named was businessman Lazaro Baez, whose Austral Construcciones company allegedly benefited from irregular contracts.

The ruling published by official Centre of Judicial Information said the defendants are accused of associating to illegally take public funds meant for public works between May 2003 and December 2015, largely in the southern province of Santa Cruz.

The judge said 52 contracts worth about $2.9bn were assigned to Baez's companies at prices that averaged 15 percent above the original budget.

Kirchner's late husband Nestor Kirchner was president from 2003 until 2007.

Kirchner made no immediate comment on the charge, but she has repeatedly denied wrongdoing and invited an audit of public works contracts during her administration.

Gregorio Dalbon, Kirchner's lawyer, said on his Twitter account that he was not worried about the indictment and said he would appeal.

Illicit association carries a possible 10-year prison sentence, while fraudulent administration can lead to six years behind bars.

Since leaving office in December 2015, Kirchner has alleged that she is the victim of persecution by her conservative successor, Mauricio Macri.

In May, a judge indicted Kirchner on charges of manipulating currency exchange futures markets, allegedly causing economic damage to the government.</s>Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, President of Argentina from 2007 to 2015, was indicted Tuesday on corruption charges. She has denied all allegations, arguing they are politically motivated.

Fernandez is being investigated for conspiracy and a judge has ordered an embargo to 10 billion pesos, according to local media outlets.

Prosecutors accuse Fernandez of using the power of her office to guide public contracts to a businessman close to her family.
Former President of Argentina Cristina Fernández de Kirchner is indicted on corruption charges.