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| Argentina ex-minister arrested over cash bags at monastery | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| An ex-government minister in Argentina has been arrested after he was allegedly seen trying to hide millions of dollars in cash in a monastery. | |
| Officials said the police were called after nuns working at the religious community near Buenos Aires saw a man throw plastic bags over a wall. | Officials said the police were called after nuns working at the religious community near Buenos Aires saw a man throw plastic bags over a wall. |
| Jose Lopez was the public works minister in the former government of Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner. | Jose Lopez was the public works minister in the former government of Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner. |
| Judges have been investigating several former officials for money-laundering. | Judges have been investigating several former officials for money-laundering. |
| Mr Lopez was initially detained at the Our Lady of the Rosary of Fatima religious community around 55km (35 miles) west of the capital Buenos Aires for illegal possession of a .22 calibre rifle. | |
| Police then discovered wads of cash in several currencies as well as watches in packages inside the bags. | Police then discovered wads of cash in several currencies as well as watches in packages inside the bags. |
| Local media say around $7m were found in dollars, yen, euros and other currencies. | |
| More money was found by the police in the car in which Mr Lopez had been travelling. | More money was found by the police in the car in which Mr Lopez had been travelling. |
| The Buenos Aires provincial security chief, Cristian Ritondo, said Mr Lopez was now being investigated for money laundering. | The Buenos Aires provincial security chief, Cristian Ritondo, said Mr Lopez was now being investigated for money laundering. |
| "He was caught red-handed with six bags, a suitcase, a weapon and he was later identified as a Public Works Minister, Jose Lopez, from the previous government," said Mr Ritondo. | "He was caught red-handed with six bags, a suitcase, a weapon and he was later identified as a Public Works Minister, Jose Lopez, from the previous government," said Mr Ritondo. |
| "This person was arrested, in principle, for carrying a weapon. Now he is being detained for possible money laundering or suspected money laundering." | "This person was arrested, in principle, for carrying a weapon. Now he is being detained for possible money laundering or suspected money laundering." |
| After being questioned at a police station in Buenos Aires, Mr Lopez was pictured being taken away under armed guard, wearing a helmet and a bulletproof vest. | |
| Correspondents say since Cristina Fernandez ended her term in December, the administration of President Mauricio Macri has promised to root out corruption. | Correspondents say since Cristina Fernandez ended her term in December, the administration of President Mauricio Macri has promised to root out corruption. |
| "It's almost out of a movie,'' said Marcos Pena, President Macri's Cabinet chief. | "It's almost out of a movie,'' said Marcos Pena, President Macri's Cabinet chief. |
| "We're shocked because it's not a minor official. He led public works... where we saw so much daily corruption.'' | "We're shocked because it's not a minor official. He led public works... where we saw so much daily corruption.'' |
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