[JURIST] A district court in Ljubljana [official website, in Slovenian] on Wednesday convicted former Slovenia [CIA backgrounder] prime minister Janez Jansa [official website] of corruption and sentenced him to two years in prison. The trial began in September 2011 [BBC report], with Jasna and two others accused of soliciting bribes while signing a defense contract with the Finnish company Patria for a supply of armored vehicles. Investigators believe that Jansa and his accomplices expected to receive €21 million. The two defendants with Jasna were sentenced to 22 months in prison, and all three were fined €37,000. Jasna has denied the charges and has said he will appeal.

Jansa served as the prime minister in 2004-2008 and in 2012-2013. His party was ousted in a no-confidence vote earlier this year after he was accused of corruption. Slovenia has been plagued by severe economic problems and widespread allegations of corruption.