Mexico sentences 5 to almost 1,000 years in jail

Mexico City: A court has handed sentenced five men to each serve 1,000 years in prison for robbing 18 people at a Mexico City restaurant in October and holding them hostage.

The sentences of 998 years each are largely symbolic because the maximum prison terms in Mexico for such crimes are about 60 years and multiple sentences are served concurrently.

The men robbed the customers, then took them hostage police arrived. The customers were released a few hours later.

The Mexico City prosecutors' office said each of the men will also have to pay fines of more than $98,175.