Nicaragua reopens corruption case against former president Arnoldo Aleman

Nicaragua reopens old cases against ex-president

MANAGUA, Nicaragua — A Nicaraguan appeals court has reopened three corruption cases against former President Arnoldo Aleman relating to government purchases during his 1997-2001 term.

Aleman has already had several charges and convictions in similar cases overturned.

The Managua Appeals Tribunal reopened two cases Wednesday and another Thursday. They involve the sale of a government company, the purchase of cattle and a government plane.

Aleman has said he wants to challenge the ruling leftist Sandinistas in the 2011 presidential election. He claims the reopening of the cases is a political attack by the Sandinistas meant to hurt his Liberal Constitutionalist Party.