Wife of former Mongolian president blasts husband's sentence

The wife of former Mongolian president Nambar Enkhbayar on Friday blamed the country's incumbent leader for a four-year jail sentence of her husband, saying there were no facts or evidence for the trial. The court imposed the sentence to Enkhbayar for corruption based on rumors and gossips, Onon Tsolmon, who once served as a special advisor to the Mongolian General Intelligence Agency, told local media. "(Incumbent President Tsakhia) Elbegdorj is the person behind the sentencing of my husband. Judges of Sukhbaatar district court which has no conscience and compassion will bear their bad karma one day," she said. Tsolmon also lashed out at three senior officials, saying they sentenced her husband at the instigation of Elbegdorj. She said she will fight against this injustice using all available means. Earlier in the day, Sukhbaatar district gave Enkhbayar a seven-year prison term, three of which will be pardoned, after a three-day trial that started on July 31. According to the court ruling, 25 million tugriks (18,660 U.S. dollars) worth of Enkhbayar's property will be confiscated. Revenues of TV9, a TV station which Enkhbayar owns, will be seized as well. The court also awarded Gandan Buddhist Monastery 54 million tugriks (40,300 dollars) as compensation for damage. Enkhbayar was arrested on April 12 on charges of involving in the illegal privatization of a hotel and a publishing house, and using TV equipments donated to a Mongolian Buddhist organization to establish TV9. However, supporters said Enkhbayar, who served as president from 2005 to 2009, was framed by Elbegdorj for political reasons. Enkhbayar lost to Elbegdorj by a small margin in the 2009 presidential elections. He first conceded but later rejected the election results, citing irregularities. The former president is also chairman of Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party (MPRP), a splinter party from former ruling Mongolian People's Party. MPRP and Mongolian National Democratic Party formed Justice Coalition, which has 11 seats in the country's 76-member parliament.