Former Costa Rican president Miguel Angel Rodríguez jailed for five years

Former Costa Rican President Miguel Angel Rodríguez was sentenced to five years prison in a bribery scandal at the state telecommunications company.

Rodriguez, 71, who governed Costa Rica between 1998 and 2002, was found guilty of receiving $500,000 of a total $14 million paid by French telecommunications equipment maker Alcatel to Costa Rican officials. Rodríguez has maintained his innocence throughout the trial and said he would appeal his conviction.

Original source: Reuters