In a landmark verdict, the Ljubljana Local Court upheld the proposal of the prosecution in sentencing Janša, president of the opposition Democrats (SDS), to two years in prison.

Brigadier Tone Krkovič, an alleged middleman, and Ivan Črnkovič, the boss of Patria's Slovenian partner Rotis, were sentenced to 22 months in prison.

All three were also ordered to pay EUR 37,000 in fines each.

The ruling is not yet final, and the defence indicated earlier this week that appeals would be lodged at the Higher Court.

All three have claimed innocence since the start of the court proceedings in September 2011, insisting that this was a show trial designed to hamstring Janša's political career.

The guilty verdicts do not signal an end to the Patria trial, however.

The trial initially also involved former senior SDS official Jože Zagožen and Canada-based businessman Walter Wolf of Slovenian descent, who were excluded due to their absence.

Zagožen has excused his absence on health grounds, whereas Wolf is being sought with an international warrant after failing to appear for several recent trial dates.

Additionally, a new trial involving the 2006 defence deal worth EUR 278m recently started, with painter Jure Cekuta and retired Brigadier Peter Zupan in the dock on charges of bribery and unlawful leaking of information.