A JUDGE in Argentina dismissed a long-running money laundering case on Monday against vice-president Cristina Fernandez, after prosecutors and state agencies said there was no evidence she was involved in a crime.

Federal Judge Sebastian Casanello ruled that Ms Fernandez be removed from what had come to be known as the “K money trail” case because it involved alleged kickbacks and money laundering on behalf of Ms Fernandez’s family by businessman Lazaro Baez.

Prosecutor Guillermo Marijuan said late last month there was no evidence that Ms Fernandez, a former president from 2007 to 2015, was involved in the corruption for which Mr Baez has been sentenced to 10 years in prison.

This marks the latest instance in which the vice-president has been dismissed from an ongoing corruption-related case before it reaches trial.

In contrast with the dismissals, the former president was sentenced in December of last year to six years in prison in a separate case for fraudulent administration, which included a lifetime ban on holding public office, for favouring Mr Baez in the awarding of public works contracts. 

Mr Baez was sentenced to six years in prison as part of that case which was unrelated to the “K money trail” that specifically deals with money laundering allegations.

The vice-president’s conviction can still be appealed and reviewed by higher courts, a process that could take years. She remains immune from arrest in the meantime ahead of October elections.

Ms Fernandez is also facing accusations of wrongdoing in a separate case that claims she headed up a corruption network to award public works contracts during her administration.