Ex-official arrested over bags of cash at monastery

An official in the former government of president Cristina Fernandez was arrested on Tuesday as he allegedly tried to hide millions in dollars and other currencies at an Argentine monastery.

A neighbor of the monastery called authorities after seeing a man throwing bags onto the property near Buenos Aires early on Tuesday. Officers arrived and arrested a man who turned out to be former Public Works Secretary Jose Lopez.

They then discovered wads of cash as well as watches in more than 160 packages inside the bags. Other money had been taken to the monastery kitchen and some was found in the trunk of a car.