By JUAN FORERO

             BOGOTÁ, Colombia, March 24 -- Vladimiro Montesinos, the once-feared
             Peruvian spy chief accused of widespread corruption during the 10-year rule
             of former President Alberto K. Fujimori, was convicted today in the Peruvian
             capital, Lima, in the first of more than 60 public trials he faces.

             Mr. Montesinos, 57, was sentenced to more than five years in prison for
             having used his influence to help the brother of his former mistress, Jacqueline
             Beltran, to be released from jail.

             A closed court in July had sentenced Mr. Montesinos to a nine-year prison
             term for illegally taking control of Peru's spy agency during the
             corruption-riddled presidency of Mr. Fujimori, who fled into exile in 2000.

             The tall, balding Mr. Montesinos still faces trial on such serious charges as gun
             running to Colombia's Marxist rebels, money laundering, collaborating with
             drug traffickers, directing a death squad and committing electoral fraud.

             Mr. Montesinos was Mr. Fujimori's right-hand man during his rule, helping the
             former president stamp out dissent during the height of a brutal war against the
             insurgency of the leftist Shining Path rebels.

             Published: 03 - 25 - 2003 , Late Edition - Final , Section A , Column 2 , Page 3