FILE - This Sept. 19, 2011 file photo shows Bogota's former Mayor Samuel Moreno leaving court in Bogota, Colombia, after he was charged with corruption in the awarding of ambulance contracts and removed from office. The grandson of a popular mid-century president, Moreno was found guilty in March of 2016 of benefiting from almost $2 million in kickbacks paid by ambulance companies hired by the city. (AP Photo/William Fernando Martinez, File) (The Associated Press)
BOGOTA, Colombia – The former leftist mayor of Colombia's capital has been sentenced to 18 years in jail for taking bribes in the awarding of ambulance contracts
Former Bogota Mayor Samuel Moreno was removed from office in 2011 and then jailed on corruption charges.
The grandson of a popular mid-century president, Moreno was found guilty this month of benefiting from almost $2 million in kickbacks paid by ambulance companies hired by the city. He still faces charges of even larger graft tied to the awarding of infrastructure projects that were left unfinished.
In reading Tuesday's sentence, a judge who previously accused Moreno of "looting" the city's coffers also banned the politician from holding further public offices.
Moreno has denied any wrongdoing and said if necessary he'll appeal his conviction to an international tribunal.
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