MANAGUA, Nicaragua, Dec. 8 (UPI) -- Former Nicaraguan President Arnoldo Aleman was convicted of corruption and sentenced to 20 years in prison, local news sources reported Monday.
Aleman, who had been suspected of corruption for years, was also fined $10 million and prohibited from serving in Nicaragua's legislature.
Aleman was accused of diverting some $100 million to his conservative Constitutional Liberal Party between 1997 and 2002, the term of his presidency. He also allegedly diverted state funds for personal use.
It is the first time a former president of the poor Central American nation has been convicted on corruption charges.
Current President Enrique Bolanos has made fighting political corruption a top priority of his administration and had the support of Aleman in last year's election.
The convicted former leader was imprisoned and exiled during the reign of the Sandinistas during the 1980s.
