New appeal revives case against Argentinian president

BUENOS AIRES — Argentine prosecutors launched a new appeal Tuesday of a court’s decision to dismiss their case against President Cristina Kirchner for allegedly protecting Iranian officials accused of orchestrating a deadly 1994 bombing.

Prosecutors are seeking to relaunch the case that was being brought by their late colleague Alberto Nisman, who died mysteriously on January 18 after accusing Kirchner of shielding high-ranking Iranians suspected of ordering the attack on a Buenos Aires Jewish center.

Prosecutor German Moldes filed an appeal to bring the case before the next highest appeals court, which would be the third court to consider the case.

The accusations first came before Judge Daniel Rafecas, who found in a scathing ruling on February 26 that no crime was committed, saying the prosecution’s own evidence “roundly refutes” its case.

The decision was upheld by the Federal Chamber last week in a 2-1 ruling.

Moldes called that decision “notably hasty” in his appeal.

If the latest appeal is rejected, prosecutors can take the case to a higher court or ask the Supreme Court to intervene.

The long-unsolved bombing at the Argentine Jewish Mutual Association killed 85 people and wounded 300.

Nisman had accused Iran of ordering the attack via Lebanese terror group Hezbollah.

Four days before his death, he filed a report accusing Kirchner, Foreign Minister Hector Timerman and other figures close to the government of protecting Iranian officials, including former president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, in exchange for oil and trade benefits.

Nisman was found dead in January in his Buenos Aires apartment of a gunshot wound to the head on the eve of congressional hearings where he was due to present his allegations.