Quito [Ecuador], July 14: Five people linked to one of Ecuador's biggest criminal gangs have been jailed for the murder of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio last year.
Villavicencio, a member of the country's national assembly and an ex-journalist, was shot dead as he left a campaign rally in the capital, Quito, last August.
Carlos Angulo, the alleged leader of the Los Lobos gang, and Laura Castilla were sentenced to 34 years and eight months in prison for directing the hit. Two men and a woman were handed 12-year sentences by the court in Quito for aiding a hit squad in the attack.
Prosecutors alleged that Angulo - widely known as The Invisible - ordered the hit from the Quito prison in which he is detained.
He denied the charges, claiming he was being made a "scapegoat" for the hit.
Castilla was left in charge of logistics for the hit. She allegedly supplied weapons, money and motorcycles to the men to carry out the hit.
The others - Erick Ramirez, Victor Flores and Alexandra Chimbo - were accused of helping the hit squad track Villavicencio's movements.
More than 70 people gave evidence during the trial, including a key witness who said the gang had been offered more than $200,000 (£154,000) to kill Villavicencio
A crusading anti-corruption activist, Villavicencio had been one of the few candidates to allege links between organised crime and government officials in Ecuador.
In the weeks leading up to the election, the politician had received death threats and been given a security detail.
Source: Qatar Tribune
