#15Jul A federal court in Argentina ordered

this Tuesday former president Cristina Fernández de Kirchner and eight others convicted in the Vialidad case to jointly pay 685 billion pesos (537 million dollars) as compensation for irregularities in road works contracts during their terms in office.

The Federal Oral Court No. 2 set the amount following an official appraisal that dismissed the one presented by the defense. Fernández must pay her share in cash within the next ten business days, or her seized properties will be auctioned off.

Among the convicted are businessman Lázaro Báez and several former officials, all currently in prison. Fernández, under house arrest since June, remains barred from holding public office.

The judicial decision states that the actions constitute a "serious harm to the public treasury" and it is expected that the defense will appeal the ruling in the coming days.