Former Peruvian President Martin Vizcarra sentenced to 14 years in prison

LIMA, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Former Peruvian President Martin Vizcarra was sentenced on Wednesday to 14 years in prison for taking bribes, according to local authorities.

Vizcarra attended a hearing at the Fourth National Criminal Collegiate Court, in which Judge Fernanda Ayasta announced the sentence on him for accepting bribes while he served as governor of the Moquegua region.

The cases involved two construction projects, the Lomas de Ilo irrigation system and the Moquegua Hospital, which resulted in sentences of six and eight years, respectively.

According to the judge, Vizcarra received around 2.3 million soles (about 690,000 U.S. dollars) in illegal contributions from companies Obrainsa and Contratistas Generales SAT through commissions and staggered payments.

In addition to the prison term, the court also barred Vizcarra from holding public office for nine years and ordered him to pay 94,900 soles in civil damages.

Following the verdict, Vizcarra took to social media, claiming he was the victim of "revenge" for challenging what he described as a "mafia pact." (1 Peruvian sol = 0.3 U.S. dollar) ■