Fox News Latino – A Colombian court sentenced hacker Andres Sepulveda to 10 years in prison after he admitted to various crimes, including spying on the government’s peace talks with the FARC, and accepted the prosecution’s offer of a reduced penalty in exchange for his cooperation.
Sepulveda was judged guilty of five crimes, including illegal interception and espionage, according to the sentence handed down by the 22nd Presiding Court of Bogota.
He must also pay a fine worth 120 of his current monthly minimum salaries as part of the agreement.
The Internet pirate was arrested in May 2014 after being traced to secret offices that hacked confidential information and messages, including one whose objective was to sabotage the peace process.
Several months earlier he had been contracted by the Colombian presidential campaign of then-candidate Oscar Ivan Zuluaga of the Democratic Center Party, led by ex-President and Sen. Alvaro Uribe.
Before hearing the sentence, Sepulveda read a statement to the effect that he offered no apologies to the FARC but did apologize to the armed forces and the Colombian police.
“I deeply regret the damage I caused them. Every day I regret the damage caused to their good name and honor,” he said.
He also begged pardon of “everyone who has taken part in the investigative process,” the prosecutors, police of the judiciary, attorneys and judges.
Sepulveda intercepted communications of FARC negotiators, of the top guerrilla leader Rodrigo Londoño, alias “Timochenko,” and of Liberal ex-Sen. Piedad Cordoba, among others.
