An Argentine court sentenced Vice President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner to six years in prison and barred her from holding public office in a high-profile corruption case on Tuesday.
Fernandez was found guilty of abuse of office, after breaking the law by awarding tenders to her friends. But she is unlikely to serve a prison sentence because she has some immunity through her government roles and is expected to begin a lengthy appeals process, foreign media reported.
Lawyers said Fernandez de Kirchner would not go to prison soon because of a lengthy appeals process and her immunity while serving as vice president. She would have to resign or be removed from office before being sent to prison.
Prosecutors had asked for a sentence of 12 years in prison. This is the first time a vice president has been convicted of a crime while in office in Argentina.