The Americas

Judge lifts arrest warrant for Argentine human rights leader

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Hebe de Bonafini, president of Madres de la Plaza de Mayo human rights group, sits in a van in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Friday, Aug. 5, 2016 as she waits to travel to Mar de Plata to attend a conference. Hundreds of supporters prevented Argentine police Thursday from executing an arrest warrant against the 87-year-old in a highly politicized corruption case. Bonafini has refused to submit to questioning into the alleged embezzlement of public funds meant for a low-income housing project registered in her group's name. (AP Photo/Jorge Saenz) (The Associated Press)

Supporters of Hebe de Bonafini, President of Mothers of Plaza de Mayo human rights group, march around the Plaza de Mayo chanting slogans against Argentine President Mauricio Marci and in support of Bonafini in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Thursday, Aug. 4, 2016. The demonstrators surrounded Bonafini to stop the police from detaining her after a judge ordered her arrest for refusing to show up for questioning into the alleged embezzlement of public funds meant for a low-income housing project. (AP Photo/Jorge Saenz) (The Associated Press)

Hebe de Bonafini, president of Madres de la Plaza de Mayo human rights group, sits in a van in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Friday, Aug. 5, 2016 as she waits to travel to Mar de Plata to attend a conference. Hundreds of supporters prevented Argentine police Thursday from executing an arrest warrant against the 87-year-old in a highly politicized corruption case. Bonafini has refused to submit to questioning into the alleged embezzlement of public funds meant for a low-income housing project registered in her group's name. (AP Photo/Jorge Saenz) (The Associated Press)

An Argentine judge has lifted an arrest warrant for the 87-year-old president of the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo human rights group in a highly politicized embezzlement case.

The investigating magistrate had ordered Hebe de Bonafini's arrest on Thursday.

But hundreds of supporters massed outside the group's offices to prevent police from removing her. The judge agreed Friday to allow her to be questioned without being jailed. A date was not set.

De Bonafini had twice refused to submit to questioning in a case involving the alleged diversion of nearly $14 million in public funds earmarked for a low-incoming housing project registered under the Mothers' name.