The Supreme Court of Justice sentenced former Tolima Congressman Gonzalo Garica to 7.5 years in jail for his ties to paramilitary groups while in office.
Garcia was involved with the Tolima block of the AUC paramilitary group, El Tiempo reported Monday. During his time in office as the Mayor of Valle de San Juan from 2001 to 2003 he allocated 10% of government resources to groups outside the law, according to AUC members.
Garcia is the second congressman to be sentenced by the Supreme Court for paramilitary ties. The former governor of Sucre, Salvador Arana, was sentenced to 40 years in jail in early December for his ties to paramilitary groups.