Panama's Noriega Sentenced To Seven Years In Jail

Former Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega (right) was led into Miami International Airport for extradition to France on April 26.

A French court has sentenced Panama's former dictator Manuel Noriega to seven years in jail for laundering drug money.

The court also ordered the seizure of 2.3 million euros ($2.9 million) in frozen French accounts held in the 76-year-old general's name.

Prosecutors had sought the maximum 10-year jail sentence for Noriega, who was extradited from the United States to France in April to face trial on charges of laundering money from Colombian drug lords through French banks.

Noriega's lawyer told reporters after the sentencing that he judged the seven-year sentence "extremely severe."

compiled from agency reports