Seven people conducting illegal mining activities in the Quispicanchi province of southeastern Peru were issued sentences of five to six years in jail by the regional Environmental Prosecutor's Office in Cusco.
According to a media statement released by the prosecutor, this is the first time that his office is actually able to issue this type of sentence. He said it will set a precedent to address similar cases across the country.
All the accused were found guilty of polluting the environment and illegal mining. Two of them were captured while five are still at large. Besides serving time, they will also have to pay about $21,000 in fines.
According to official sources, the illegal miners started their activities back in 2013 in the Cusco region, specifically in theTunkimayo sector of the Camanti district where they dug 25-kilometre long trenches and cut trees in a regional forest.