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MANAGUA, Nicaragua (AP) - Former Nicaraguan President Arnoldo Aleman acknowledged for the first time Saturday that he spent $1.8 million in government money on jewelry and meals, mostly while he was abroad seeking aid following the devastation of Hurricane Mitch in 1998.
The spending included a honeymoon trip, $37,630 worth of crafts bought in India, and $9,360 in jewelry. Aleman suggested they were justifiable travel expenses because his trips coincided with an inflow of aid after the hurricane.
"Investments of $1.9 billion were brought to the country," Aleman told the Spanish-language network Univision at his ranch 30 miles southwest of the capital, Managua.
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