Former Ukrainian Prime Minister Pavlo Lazarenko leaves the federal building after he was sentenced in federal court to nine years in prison and $10 million in fines for money laudering, wire fraud and extortion, Friday, Aug. 25, 2006, in San Francisco. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

    WASHINGTON, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- Former Ukrainian Prime Minister Pavlo Lazarenko was sentenced Friday by a U.S. court in San Francisco, Calif. , to 9 years in jail for money laundering charges, U.S. media reported.

    The 53-year-old Lazarenko was also fined 10 million U.S. dollars.

    He was the first former head of government to be tried in the United States since Manuel Noriega of Panama.

    In June 2004, Lazarenko was convicted by a jury in San Francisco and has remained under house arrest at an undisclosed location since then.

    "A significant sentence is appropriate," said U.S. District Court Judge Martin Jenkins who gave the sentence.

    Upon sentencing, Lazarenko did not show any emotions and took notes as he listened to a translation of the judge through headphones.

    Charges against Lazarenko, who was Ukrainian prime minister between 1996 and 1997, include 29 counts of extortion, laundering money through California banks, fraud, and transportation of stolen property.

    The former Ukrainian prime minister sought political asylum in the U.S. in 1999 during his country's presidential election campaign, claiming he had faced three assassination attempts.

    Instead, the U.S. government arrested him and accused him of using the United States as a safe haven for his dirty money.

    According to the U.S. government, Lazarenko used his political clout to set up an international underground network of bank accounts to launder profits made through clandestine schemes involving natural gas, agribusiness, housing and other businesses in Ukraine.

    The former prime minister has flatly denied any wrongdoing.

    Prosecutors had sought a sentence of more than 18 years plus restitution up to 43 million dollars.

    A ruling on the restitution issue is expected within 90 days. Enditem