Prosecutors say the ex-president received $520,000 in commission and the money was deposited in a Panama bank account.

Calderon says he received the money for a 'political consultancy' and the payment was therefore legitimate.

Ex-president of the C.C.S.S., Eliseo Vargas, brought the case against him.

Vargas, who was a friend of Calderon, belongs to the same Social Christian Unity Party (PUSC), which is now in the opposition.

Prosecutors said Calderon and the other co-accused hatched the plan to cheat the government.