Ex-senator in Colombia gets nine years for ties to paramilitary

[Judi Lynn]

Ex-senator in Colombia gets nine years for ties to paramilitary
Mar 19, 2010, 5:36 GMT

Bogota - A former senator and close ally of Colombian President Alvaro Uribe was sentenced to nine years and three months in prison for his ties to right-wing paramilitary fighters.

Alvaro Araujo belonged to a criminal ring by having close ties with a paramilitary commander and accepted money from the paramilitary group, the Supreme Court said Thursday during the sentencing.

About 70 lawmakers, most of them supporters of Uribe, are being investigated for ties with the now-demobilized United Self-Defence Forces of Colombia (AUC).

The AUC was formed to fight leftist guerillas but, along with its rivals, was accused of civilian massacres, other human rights abuses and engagement in the drug trade. Over two decades of fighting, it was accused of killing at least 150,000 people and was designated a terrorist group by the United States and the European Union.

More:
http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/americas/news/article_1542211.php/Ex-senator-in-Colombia-gets-nine-years-for-ties-to-paramilitary

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Alvaro Araujo