Former Salvadoran President Receives Six-Year Prison Sentence for Tax Evasion, Adding to Previous Convictions

Former Salvadoran President Sentenced to Six Years in Prison for Tax Evasion

YSKL Radio: Former Salvadoran President Funes Receives Additional Six-Year Prison Sentence for Tax Evasion

Former Salvadoran President Mauricio Funes, who was previously sentenced to 14 years for criminal conspiracy, has now received an additional six-year sentence in a tax evasion case, according to YSKL radio station.

"The Third Court of San Salvador has sentenced former President Mauricio Funes to six years of imprisonment. Funes, who is currently in hiding in Nicaragua, was accused of tax fraud involving tax evasion," the radio station reported on Twitter.

In May, Funes was sentenced to 14 years in prison, while the Minister of Justice and Security in his government, David Munguia Payes, received 18 years for criminal conspiracy with representatives of criminal gangs. The prosecution was able to prove that the two former officials "traded Salvadorans' lives in exchange for electoral favors, acting as gang members."

Funes is already internationally wanted on corruption charges, but he considers it to be political persecution. In 2019, the former president obtained asylum and citizenship in Nicaragua, where he is believed to be hiding. Under Nicaraguan laws, citizens cannot be extradited; however, Salvadoran laws allow for criminal proceedings in the absence of the accused.