Mario Uribe, the cousin of former President Alvaro Uribe, was sentenced to seven years and six months in prison on Monday for his dealings with paramilitaries.
Uribe, a former Senate president, was sentenced by the Criminal Chamber of the Supreme Court.
The verdict comes after the “parapolitician” was arrested almost a year ago following accusations that he had garnered the support of paramilitaries for his senatorial election run in 2002.
The Supreme Court took into account the statements of several demobilized paramilitary members, including extradited AUC leader Salvatore Mancuso.
Uribe, who was also accused of using his paramilitary ties to procure cheap land in the Cordoba department, will remain under investigation for crimes against humanity after a request by the Supreme Court.
The disgraced politician was originally detained in 2008 following a failed attempt at gaining political asylum in Costa Rica, reported Terra.
Although he was subsequently released, he was rearrested on February 24, 2010, and has since been held in Bogota’s “La Picota” prison.
