Police escorted former President Arnoldo Aleman from his private ranch to a jail cell to await trials on charges of fraud, embezzlement and money laundering.

Aleman, who left office in January 2002, had been under house arrest at his luxurious ranch outside the capital, Managua, since December. He was moved on Monday.

Judge Juana Mendez ruled Friday that Aleman should be taken to jail after prison officials refurbished a special cell to house the ex-president.

Aleman is accused of transferring nearly $100 million in state funds to his party's election campaigns and embezzling more than $4 million in government money. He is also charged with taking $1.3 million that was to be used to modernize a state-owned television station.

Aleman's wife, children and political allies led protests Monday against the decision to jail the former president.

His new hilltop jail cell was designed for Agustin Jarquin, a former federal comptroller who was jailed on corruption charges but kept separate from other inmates for his own safety.

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