Jewish center bombing
Photo: AFP
Borger. A light of hope
Photo: AFP
Argentina to reopen probe into Jewish center bombing
Country's Supreme Court rules man suspected of providing van loaded with explosives to be tried again for his alleged involvement in 1994 attack which left 85 people dead
The Supreme Court of Argentina on Thursday night ordered the reopening of an investigation into a 1994 bombing in Buenos Aires' Jewish community center, which left 85 people killed.
The judges criticizes Justice Juan Jose Galeano, who presided over the previous trial, and who they said was influenced by pressures exerted by a local terror network which aided Hizbullah.
The court ruled with a four-to-two majority that Carlos Telledín, a former car mechanic, will be tried again for his alleged involvement in the attack at the AMIA center. He is suspected of providing a van loaded with explosives used to carry out the attack. At the time he was arrested, questioned and released.
Justice
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"The court is unable to annul the entire investigation, but only the part afflicted with the lack of objectivity in Judge Jose Galeano's work," the court said in its 90-page ruling. "We wish to convey a message against the injustice hovering over the case."
The AMIA directorate and the victims' families expressed their satisfaction with the judges' decision. AMIA Secretary-General Julio Scholesser said, "We are on the way to not having our dead die twice."
Relatives of the victims said in a statement, "The Supreme Court is making sure that justice will be made in the AMIA trial. We are filled with hope that the truth will come out and that the culprits will be punished."
AMIA President Guillermo Borger said that the organization members did not feel any happiness but rather a sense of justice. "A light of hope has been opened with the Supreme Court's ruling."
About a week ago, Argentina issued an international arrest warrant against a Colombian national suspected of being involved in the 1994 attack. Samuel Salman el-Reda, a Colombian of Lebanese descent who formerly lived in Buenos Aires, was the top local connection in the attack, Prosecutor Alberto Nisman told a press conference.
El-Reda has been married to an Argentine national, Silvina Sain, since 1989 "and was part of the most radicalized sector of the local Muslim community," Nisman said.
AFP contributed to this report
