Ex-intelligence officer called to in prosecutor death case

Ex-intelligence officer called to in prosecutor death case
Posted: Thursday, February 5, 2015 11:06 am | Updated: 2:30 pm, Thu Feb 5, 2015.
Associated Press |

BUENOS AIRES (AP) — Argentine investigators on Thursday called a recently deposed senior intelligence officer to testify as they attempt to understand the mysterious death of a prosecutor who accused President Cristina Fernandez of agreeing to shield the masterminds of a 1994 terror bombing.

Antonio "Jaime" Stiuso was called to speak with lead investigator Viviana Fein, said Secretary of Intelligence Oscar Parrilli. Stiuso's whereabouts, however, are unknown. Parrilli said officials searched for him unsuccessfully at three residences where he had been known to live.

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By law, intelligence officials are prohibited from disclosing state secrets. But, Parrilli said, Fernandez would present an order exempting Stiuso from the restriction, clearing the way for him to speak about anything.
"The president wants all the truth to be known, and wants Stiuso to tell us everything, from (when he joined the agency in) 1972 until now," Parrilli told reporters outside Congress.

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Testimony by Stiuso is expected to be key to the investigation into the Jan. 18 death of Alberto Nisman, the prosecutor who was found shot dead hours before he was to detail allegations that Fernandez helped shield Iranian officials connected to the 1994 terrorist bombing of a Jewish community. The attack which killed 85 remains unsolved.

Fernandez, who has denied any wrongdoing, has suggested Stiuso was involved in Nisman's death but has not elaborated. The spy chief had collaborated with Nisman in his 10-year investigation and retired from the intelligence agency on Jan. 5.

Media reports have said Stiuso telephoned Nisman on Jan. 17 but Blanco Bermudez, speaking to the television station TN on Thursday, said he could not confirm the reports. The lawyer said Stiuso had "a fleet of phones, around 100."

More:
http://www.omaha.com/news/world/lawyer-ex-spy-operative-in-argentina-had-cell-phones/article_ceed0dfb-8f32-5273-b5e4-7bf9d0729e6a.html