QUITO: Luis Chiriboga, one-time president of the Ecuadorian football federation, has been sentenced to 10 years in jail for money laundering in the latest CONMEBOL corruption case.

A Quito court convicted Chiriboga, along with two co-defendants, on allegations involving nearly $6.12m which was allegedly received from 2010 to 2015. Hugo Mora was also sentenced to 10 years and Pedro Vera was given 40 months.

Tax system prosecutors had accused Chiriboga and his associates of diverting funds sent to the Ecuador federation from the South American confederation.

The 70-year-old, who ran the FEF for 18 years, has been under house arrest since late 2015. Due to his age he is likely to serve his sentence under these terms, if the ruling issued by Judge Miriam Escobar is upheld. Lawyers for all three defendants have said they will appeal the sentences.

Chiriboga’s case was built after revelations in the $200m FIFAGate investigation mounted by the United States Department of Justice into bribery and corruption concerning marketing and TV rights in the Americas.

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