Panama’s Ex-Leader Manuel Noriega Returns Home to Serve Jail Term (PHOTOS)

Panama's former leader Manuel Noriega has returned to his home country to face punishment following extradition from France.

Noriega faces further sentencing after serving more than 20 years in U.S. and French prisons for drug trafficking and money laundering.

On Sunday morning the 77-year-old departed from Orly airport, south of Paris, and landed in Panama City in the evening.

He was convicted in absentia for the murders of two political opponents during his military dictatorship between 1983 and 1989.

A French court last month accepted Panama's request to send Noriega back to his home country to be jailed over his convictions for murder, corruption and embezzlement.

Noriega traveled with a doctor, Panama's attorney general and other officials. As the result of a stroke several years ago, Noriega suffers from high blood pressure and partial paralysis.

Photo: Reuters

Panama's former dictator Manuel Noriega is seen next to police officers upon his arrival at Renacer prison, outside Panama City Dec. 11, 2011. Noriega, Panama's drug-running military dictator of the 1980s, was extradited back to the country on Sunday and taken straight to prison to serve a 20-year sentence for the murders of opponents during his rule. Noriega, now 77, was toppled in a U.S. invasion of Panama in 1989 and has spent the last two decades behind bars, first in Florida and then in France after being convicted for drug trafficking and money laundering.

Panama’s ex-leader Manuel Noriega returned back home

Photo: Reuters

Panama's former dictator Manuel Noriega sits in a wheelchair next to a prison warden (L) and a police officer after his arrival at Renacer prison, outside Panama City December 11, 2011. Noriega, Panama's drug-running military dictator of the 1980s, was extradited back to the country on Sunday and taken straight to prison to serve a 20-year sentence for the murders of opponents during his rule. Noriega, now 77, was toppled in a U.S. invasion of Panama in 1989 and has spent the last two decades behind bars, first in Florida and then in France after being convicted for drug trafficking and money laundering.

Photo: Reuters

A man believed to be Panama's former dictator Manuel Noriega (L in brown) is assisted by police officer as he exits from a car upon arriving at Renacer prison outside Panama City, December 11, 2011. Noriega, Panama's drug-running military dictator of the 1980s, left Paris early on Sunday, headed for a prison in his home country to serve a 20-year term for the murders of opponents during his rule. Noriega, now 77, was toppled in a U.S. invasion of Panama in 1989 and has spent the last two decades behind bars, first in Florida and then in France after being convicted for drug trafficking and money laundering during his time in power.

Photo: Reuters

A man believed to be Panama's former dictator Manuel Noriega (2nd L) is assisted by police officers as he exits from a car upon arriving at Renacer prison outside Panama City, December 11, 2011. Noriega, Panama's drug-running military dictator of the 1980s, left Paris early on Sunday, headed for a prison in his home country to serve a 20-year term for the murders of opponents during his rule. Noriega, now 77, was toppled in a U.S. invasion of Panama in 1989 and has spent the last two decades behind bars, first in Florida and then in France after being convicted for drug trafficking and money laundering during his time in power.

Photo: Reuters

A handout photo provided by Panama's Ministry of Government and Justice on December 11, 2011 shows the cell where Panama's Manuel Noriega will be held after he arrives at Renacer prison, outside Panama City. Noriega, Panama's drug-running military dictator of the 1980s, left Paris early on Sunday, headed for a prison in his home country to serve a 20-year term for the murders of opponents during his rule. Noriega, now 77, was toppled in a U.S. invasion of Panama in 1989 and has spent the last two decades behind bars, first in Florida and then in France after being convicted for drug trafficking and money laundering during his time in power.

IBTIMES TV

Multimedia