Colombia’s state protection unit says more corruption to be revealed

Andrés Villamizar (Photo: El Espectador)

The director of Colombia’s National Protection Unit (UNP) announced that he will present more evidence of corruption in his organization.

Last week, the prosecutor general’s office requested an international arrest warrant for former UNP Secretary General Julian Marulanda who has been charged with extensive corruption, reported El Tiempo.

The UNP’s financial head, Luis Eduardo Molino, was additionally caught red handed when he received over $5,000 as a returned favor for the awarding of a contract.

MORE: Colombia’s Interior Minister seeks additional millions for corrupt National Protection Unit

According to UNP director Andres Villamizar, the case of the fugitive former officials could be just a scratch on the surface.

“Everything indicates that more officials are involved and I hope the prosecutor will soon determine the extent of damage and which officials are directly involved in these crimes,“ newspaper El Espectador quoted Villamizar.

The now-fugitive Marulanda and at least five accomplices devised a contract scheme, which earned them more than $1 million.

Marulanda fled to Miami on August 25 after being accused of extortion, bribery, and malfeasance. Colombia’s prosecutor general’s office announced on Saturday that they will contact Interpol for a red notice in order to arrest the former secretary general and bring him to trial in Colombia.

During the past two years, officials involved in these events, received over $300,000 in kickbacks and bribes from those who were favored by the contracts.

The UNP is the government agency in charge of offering protection to politicians and civilians under increased risk of political violence.

Sources

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