November 16, 2018 - 8:09 AM
BUCHAREST, Romania - A Romanian court has convicted and sentenced to prison three protesters who lobbed bottles at riot police during an anti-corruption demonstration last year.
A Bucharest district court sentenced the men to prison terms ranging from three to 4-1/2 years. They were convicted of disturbing public order and using dangerous objects.
Friday's ruling can be appealed.
Prosecutors said the men hurled blocks of ice and other objects at riot police, causing unspecified injuries, during a Feb. 2017 anti-government protest involving 100,000 people. The protest was sparked after a government decree decriminalizing official misconduct.
The court handed suspended prison sentences to another eight men and ordered them to do community service.
Separately, the court ordered nine protesters to pay 65,000 euros ($74,000) in civil damages to three police officers.
News from © The Associated Press, 2018