Former paramilitary leader Daniel Rendon Herrera, alias “Don Mario,” has been expelled from the Justice and Peace program and faces extradition to the United States, local media reported on Tuesday.
In a unanimous decision by the judges of the Supreme Court of Justice and Peace, Daniel Rendon Herrera, alias “Don Mario,” leader of the paramilitary group the Centaurs Self-Defense Bloc, was expelled from the demobilization program after verifying that he had committed crimes after his demobilization in 2006.
The Colombia’s Justice and Peace law says that demobilized members of paramilitary groups will be given a maximum of eight years in prison and protection from extradition, regardless of the severity of their criminal record, if they confess to their crimes, collaborate with justice and cease from committing any additional crimes.
The court discovered that not only had “Don Mario” continued to commit crimes related to drug trafficking post demobilization, but the paramilitary leader had formed another armed paramilitary group called the Aguilas Negras.
“Don Mario” did not appeal the decision.
According to local media, these founded allegations by the Supreme Court means that “Don Mario” will likely be extradited to the United States on several counts of drug trafficking.
The announcement by the Supreme Court of “Don Mario’s” expulsion from the Justice and Peace program is just one of many announcements of similar failures by paramilitary leaders to abide by this law.
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Sources
- Don Mario excluido de Justicia y Paz y a punto de ser extraditado (Radio Santa Fe)
- Colaboraré con víctimas: ‘Don Mario’, tras expulsión de Justicia y Paz (El Tiempo)