Ex-El Salvador leader Mauricio Funes sentenced to 14 years over gang negotiation

El Salvador’s President Mauricio Funes in 2012 (Luis Romero/AP/PA)

A judge sentenced former El Salvador president Mauricio Funes to 14 years in prison on Monday for negotiating with gangs during his administration.

Funes’ trial began in April with the former leader living in Nicaragua. El Salvador changed its laws last year to allow trials in absentia.