Trial against former Argentine President Carlos Saul Menem on charges of orchestrating illegal arms sales to Ecuador and Croatia in the early 1990s began Thursday.

The trial on charges of illegally selling arms to Ecuador and Croatia in the early 1990s involving former Argentine President Carlos Menem and former high ranking government officials is held in Buenos Aires, capital of Argentina, on Oct. 16, 2008. Menem, 78, was not seen at the court because of health problems.(Xinhua Photo/Juan Vittori)

The prosecutor at the court accused the former head of state of violating international arms embargoes by authorizing the shipment of 6,500 tons of weapons, including artillery, anti-tank missiles, mortars and rifles, to Ecuador and Croatia in the 1990s.

At that time, the Organization of American States banned arms sales to Ecuador and Peru as the two were engaged in border conflict, while the United Nations prohibited arms sales to warring parties from the former Yugoslavia, including Croatia.

The prosecutor said Menem’s behavior also produced a loss of some 400 million pesos (123 million U.S. dollars) to Argentina.

Menem has denied such allegations, saying he signed decrees forshipment but private companies diverted the destination without his knowledge.

Besides the former president, 17 other former government officials were also charged with involvement in the illegal arms deal, including former Defense Minister Oscar Camilion and former air force chief Juan Paulik.

The trial is expected to last seven months, and some 500 witnesses will be called to testify.

If convicted, Menem will face an imprisonment of up to 12 years. He now enjoys immunity from imprisonment as a senator. However, he could be jailed if the parliament deprives him of the privilege or his mandate ends in 2014 but without a re-election.

Menem served as the country’s president in the 1989-1999 period.

VietNamNet/Xinhuanet