He was found guilty of embezzlement for handing over state funds to the mayor of the Lima district of Miraflores, Luis Bedoya de Vivanco, who used them for his election campaign.

It is the third sentence handed down to Montesinos, who served under President Alberto Fujimori, who fled to Japan after the downfall of his government.

Montesinos was sentenced to nine years in prison in 2002 for illegally assuming his post as intelligence chief, and to another five years, in March for abuse of power.

He is still awaiting trial on dozens of charges.