Managua, Dec 08: Former Nicaraguan President Arnoldo Aleman was sentenced to 20 years in prison on a series of corruption charges, the judge in charge of the case announced here. Aleman, president from 1997 to 2002, was found guilty on charges that include money laundering, fraud, embezzlement and electoral crimes, Judge Juana Mendez ruled yesterday.

On November 26, Mendez herself released Aleman, 57, from prison and put him under house arrest at his Posh El Chile ranch south of the capital on health grounds. Mendez said stress and other medical conditions, including diabetes and hypertension, could trigger a heart attack.

For the time being Aleman, who is seriously obese, will remain under house arrest, Mendez ruled. However she added that he is forbidden from taking any public office "during the period of his sentence." Aleman's attorney Mauricio Martinez described the ruling as an "aberration," arguing that the crime of money laundering "does not exist" on the books in Nicaragua. "We will overturn the ruling in the appeals court," he said.

Scores of Aleman sympathizers hurled rocks and tried to break into the court house. Riot police used tear gas to disperse the crowd, but two officers were wounded in the scuffles.

The former president still faces a separate lawsuit in which he is charged of embezzling 1.3 million dollars. Bureau Report