FILE - In this June 1, 2012 file photo, El Salvador's President Mauricio Funes stands in the National Assembly before speaking to commemorate the anniversary of his third year in office in San Salvador. A Salvadoran court ruled Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2017, that the former leader and his son Carlos are guilty of illicit enrichment and ordered them to pay back $420,000 to the state in a civil judgment that does not contemplate any prison time. (AP Photo/Luis Romero, File)
November 28, 2017 - 1:56 PM
SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador - A court found former President Mauricio Funes and his son guilty Tuesday of illicit enrichment and ordered them to pay back $420,000 to the state in a civil judgment that does not contemplate any prison time.
The court ruled Funes and his son were unable to justify the origin of the funds and barred both from holding public office for 10 years. Former first lady Vanda Pignato was absolved of any guilt in the case.
Funes denied embezzling money from the state and tweeted that they would appeal what he called an "unjust and arbitrary" ruling.
The 58-year-old Funes was president from 2009 to 2014. Both he and son Carlos Mauricio Funes are in Nicaragua, where they were granted asylum.
News from © The Associated Press, 2017