Cousin of former President Uribe sentenced to prison for paramilitary ties

Cousin of former President Uribe sentenced to prison for paramilitary ties

2011-02-23 01:05:16 GMT+7 (ICT)

BOGOTA, COLOMBIA (BNO NEWS) -- Colombia's Supreme Court on Tuesday announced that the cousin of former President Uribe was sentenced to seven years and six months in prison for his ties with paramilitary groups, El Tiempo newspaper reported.

Former Senator Mario Uribe was found guilty of forming alliances with the paramilitary leader Salvatore Mancuso in order to secure Congress support. The verdict was reached based on the declarations of Mancuso and former Congresswoman Eleonora Pineda.

During sentencing, judges determined that the declarations of the two individuals backed the accusations against the former Senator. The Colombian court also imposed a fine of $3.48 million Colombian pesos ($1,838).

According to the evidence shown on trial, Mancuso approached Uribe and presented him a strategy he designed to form political alliances with illegal groups such as Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia (AUC).

In this way, Mancuso was able to get agreements or pacts that benefited his paramilitary group without using violence. Mancuso and Uribe involved Congress members Pineda and Miguel de la Espriella in the plot.

Pineda was the link between Uribe and Manuso for reaching the pacts. She communicated instructions to their political allies and informed the, about the terms of the agreements.

Mario Uribe was the strongest ally of former President Alvaro Uribe. Together they conquered the Antioquia Government, the Congress, the Senate and ultimately the Presidency. The former leader has not commented on the sentence imposed on his cousin.

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