Argentine ex-president Menem gets 7 years' jail for arms sales to Croatia, Ecuador

Former Argentine president Carlos Menem received a seven-year jail sentence for organising contraband arms shipments to Croatia and Ecuador during his tenure. Menem, 82, a serving senator, was due to begin his sentence immediately, the tribunal president said on Thursday as he read out the ruling. But because he has immunity as a legislator, he must first be impeached by his fellow lawmakers.

If they fail to oust him from the Senate, he may not serve any time until his term ends in 2017, legal observers said.

An appeals court in March affirmed a guilty verdict against Menem, who ruled from 1989-99, and his then-defence minister, Oscar Camilion, for smuggling 6,500 tonnes of arms and ammunition to Croatia and Ecuador.

He was convicted of "aggravated smuggling" because the crime involved war materiel and was carried out by government officials. The weapons were sent to Croatia in seven shipments by sea between 1991 and 1995.

At the time, much of the Balkans was under a United Nations arms embargo after the breaking up of Yugoslavia. More arms were sent to Ecuador aboard three flights in February 1995.

The weapons were labelled as destined for Panama and Venezuela, but this was ultimately deemed a manoeuvre to dodge arms embargoes then in force against Croatia and Ecuador.