Nicaragua ex-president gets 20 years ( 2003-12-08 13:05) (Agencies)
Former Nicaraguan President Arnoldo Aleman was
convicted on corruption charges Sunday and sentenced to 20 years imprisonment
and a $10 million fine.
Former Nicaraguan President Arnoldo Aleman
attends a mass for his son Arnoldo Jose Aleman in Managua's Cathedral in
this October 23, 2002 file photo.
[AP]
Aleman was accused of illegally diverting some $100 million in government
funds to his party's election campaigns during his tenure in office, which ended
in January 2002.
It is the first time a former president has been convicted in Nicaragua.
Police used tear gas to disperse rock-throwing protesters outside the
courthouse.
During the sentencing, Judge Juana Mendez cited crimes of fraud,
misappropriation of public funds, embezzlement, criminal association and
electoral violations endangering the state.
Mendez described how Aleman and officials high up in his administration
formed corporations in Panama where public funds from Nicaragua were laundered
and mixed with political donations. The sentence said money laundering
operations were organized from Aleman's residence outside Managua.
"The money was used for the benefit of Aleman and his family and electoral
campaigns of the Liberal Constitutional Party," Mendez said.
Mendez also stripped Aleman of his ability to serve in congress and imposed a
fine of $10 million.
Aleman, 57, has been diagnosed with diabetes, hypertension and heart problems
and is likely to serve his sentence at his El Chile ranch 17 miles south of
Managua because of health concerns.
During his trial, Aleman continued to direct affairs of the center-right
governing party from jail by cellular phone and later received government
officials as visitors under house arrest.
On Sunday, the judge described how Aleman took money from the treasury to buy
a helicopter for $1.8 million and later rent the vehicle to a government agency.
President Enrique Bolanos — once Aleman's vice president and hand-picked
successor — took office promising to stamp out corruption, a campaign that
placed him at direct odds with Aleman.
Aleman became a senator upon leaving office but was stripped of the immunity
from criminal prosecution that is normally extended to lawmakers.
The judge's decision in late November to release Aleman from jail to a house
arrest during the trial provoked international concern that the judicial process
had been compromised.
The U.S. State Department called it "a politically manipulated decision" and
said that the Nicaraguan judicial system was "widely recognized as corrupt and
politicized."
The Nicaraguan Supreme Court warned the United States to stay out of its
business. The United States then suspended assistance to Nicaragua's
judiciary.
