Politics · Other · 1 hr ago
Former Salvadoran President Tony Saca released after 10-year corruption sentence
Former Salvadoran President Tony Saca was released on Thursday after serving a 10-year prison sentence.
His lawyer said Saca had completed the sentence and received no early-release benefits.
Saca pleaded guilty to diverting and laundering more than $300 million from the state budget during his 2004-2009 administration.
A plea deal reduced a potential 30-year sentence, and his term was counted from his 2016 arrest.
His case is unusual among former Salvadoran presidents: three others faced corruption charges, but two fled to Nicaragua and one died before trial.
Saca was ordered to repay millions of dollars to the state in separate civil proceedings.
Former Salvadoran President Elias Antonio “Tony” Saca was released after serving a 10-year sentence for corruption.
His lawyer said Saca completed the sentence without early-release benefits.
Saca pleaded guilty to diverting and laundering more than $300 million in public funds during his 2004–2009 presidency.
He was sentenced in 2018 under a plea deal that reduced a potential 30-year prison term.
Saca was also ordered to repay money to the Salvadoran state.
- Who
- Elias Antonio “Tony” Saca, former president of El Salvador.
- What
- He was released after completing a 10-year corruption sentence.
- When
- Thursday, October 29, 2026.
- Where
- San Salvador, El Salvador.
- Why
- He had completed his sentence after pleading guilty to diverting and laundering public funds.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Saca was arrested during his son’s wedding, and his prison term was later backdated to that year.
Saca was sentenced to five years for embezzlement and five years for money laundering.
Saca was released after completing his 10-year sentence.
- Sentence
- 10 years
- Funds involved
- More than $300 million
- Presidential term
- 2004–2009
- Arrest
- 2016, during his son’s wedding
- Repayment order
- $260 million, according to Al Jazeera
2 sources
What people are saying
The 10 years were completed.
We have come to the court to formally report the release. This was requested just yesterday.