Judge files corruption charges against Argentina VP

BUENOS AIRES – An Argentine judge has filed corruption charges against the country’s vice president in a case linked to his time as finance minister, court sources said late Friday.

Amado Boudou is the first Argentine vice president ever to face such charges while in office. President Cristina Kirchner’s second in command is currently traveling in Cuba and set to return home next week.

Federal judge Ariel Lijo’s decision was published Friday night on the justice department’s website.

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.