Source: Associated Press
Pubdate: Wed, 6 May 1998

LATIN AMERICAN BRIEFS

BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) -- An appeals court increased the sentences of two
jailed Cali cartel leaders and ordered an investigation of a lower court
judge accused of granting unwarranted sentence reductions, officials said
Wednesday.

Gilberto and Miguel Rodriguez Orejuela each received five extra years in
prison, increasing their sentences to 15 and 14 years, respectively.

The judge, whose identity was withheld for security reasons, also fined
Gilberto Rodriguez $121.3 million and Miguel $35 million for drug
trafficking, illegal enrichment and racketeering, Attorney General Jaime
Bernal Cuellar said.

The two built a multi-billion dollar empire in the 1980s and early 1990s,
taking over as authorities cracked down on the rival Medellin cartel. They
were jailed with other Cali cartel leaders in 1995. 
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Checked-by: Richard Lake