A court in Argentina on Wednesday upheld a six-year prison sentence and a lifelong ban from public office against former President Cristina Kirchner, according to a press report.

She was initially convicted in 2022 for embezzling public funds and subsequently filed an appeal.

Still, the newspaper La Nacion reported on Wednesday the federal criminal court upheld the original verdict.

Ms Kirchner plans to appeal this new ruling to the Supreme Court. Until a final judgment is made, she will remain free.

During their time in office, the former head of state (2007-2015) and her now-deceased husband, ex-President Néstor Kirchner, who was in office from 2003 to 2007, are said to have awarded public contracts to a friendly construction contractor without any bidding process.

According to the prosecution’s findings, a portion of the inflated construction costs was later given to the couple.

The now 71-year-old is alleged to have defrauded the state of around $1 billion in this manner.

She has denied the accusations and accused the judiciary of investigating her for political reasons.

Ms Kirchner is as popular in Argentina as she is controversial. She was vice-president under former President Alberto Fernández but was considered the true power broker in Buenos Aires.

She is also being investigated in other cases of money laundering and corruption.

During his election campaign, Javier Milei, Argentina’s current president, strongly criticised Ms Kirchner’s camp.

“Today, we can confirm without any doubt that Cristina Fernández de Kirchner is guilty of corruption,” Ms Milei shared on platform X following the verdict. 

(dpa/NAN)