MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Tour de force by jailed former Nicaraguan president

A lower court judge in Nicaragua ruled that former President Arnoldo Aleman, currently under house arrest at his ranch, may serve the rest of his twenty year sentence under probation terms given his “invalidity” conditions.

Defence attorney Mauricio Martinez said according to Judge Roxana Zapata ruling Mr. Aleman can move relatively freely in Managua province, must appear periodically before court and report any change of residence or employment.

Mr. Aleman who ruled from 1997 to 2002, is also banned from leaving the country, going to gambling establishments and drinking alcohol.

However Attorney General Alberto Novoa reacted strongly and in an interview with local television said the decision makes "a mockery" of justice and shows disrespect for the Nicaraguan people.

"The decision is regrettable because efforts by the government and people of Nicaragua to battle corruption have been thwarted" emphasized Mr. Novoa who anticipated he would appeal the ruling arguing Judge Zapata had no authority in the case. "The saddest thing is that Mr. Aleman could again engage in campaigning and political activities" added the attorney general.

Mr. Aleman is still appealing his December 2003 conviction for embezzling tens of millions of dollars of public funds during his term in office. Initially jailed he was then sentenced to house arrest at his ranch south of Managua for reasons of poor health.

Nicknamed "El Gordo" ("Fatso"), Mr. Aleman a conservative leader belonging to the Liberal Party suffers from diabetes and hypertension.

One of current president Enrique Bolaño's main achievements has been precisely the prosecution and conviction of his predecessor as part of his electoral promise of fighting corruption.

However, politically powerful Mr. Aleman has managed a de facto alliance with the left wing Sandinista movement which now dominates Congress and has virtually paralyzed president Bolaño's administration.