Skip to content

Ex-El Salvador President Mauricio Funes sentenced to 14 years for negotiating with gangs

20230529130520-6474dec588815fb82444af5fjpeg
FILE - El Salvador's President Mauricio Funes stands in the National Assembly before speaking to commemorate the anniversary of his third year in office in San Salvador, El Salvador, June 1, 2012. El Salvador's Attorney General's Office on Friday, May 12, 2023 asked a court to impose a 16-year prison sentence on the former president for allegedly arranging a truce with gangs to lower the homicide rate in exchange for benefits for their jail leaders. (AP Photo/Luis Romero, File)

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador (AP) — A judge sentenced former El Salvador President Mauricio Funes to 14 years in prison Monday for negotiating with gangs during his administration.

Funes’ trial began in April with the former leader living in Nicaragua. El Salvador changed its laws last year to allow trials in absentia.

Prosecutors had accused Funes of illicit association and failure to perform his duties for the gang truce negotiated in 2012. Funes had denied negotiating with the gangs or giving their leaders any privileges.

The Associated Press


Looking for World News?

VillageReport.ca viewed on a mobile phone

Check out Village Report - the news that matters most to Canada, updated throughout the day.  Or, subscribe to Village Report's free daily newsletter: a compilation of the news you need to know, sent to your inbox at 6AM.

Subscribe