Authorities in the north of Colombia arrested a convicted gambling mogul over her alleged attempts to avoid a prison sentence imposed over her implication in a homicide.
Enilse Lopez, also knows as “La Gata” (The Cat), in January was sentenced to 37 years in prison for the 2000 homicide of a security guard, but has so far failed to report to the prison citing health issues.
The Prosecutor General did not believe the convicted criminal’s claim she was too ill to go to prison and ordered her arrest.
Colombia’s corner’s office, in charge of health checks of prisoners, was quoted by Spanish news agency EFE as saying that Lopez “is seriously ill. However, to merit an extramural situation, the condition is required to put the person’s life in danger.”
Local media have said the convicted businesswoman is suffering an eating disorder.
“La Gata” is a prominent businesswoman in Barranquilla and was long leading one of the area’s largest gambling empires. She has been disgraced by numerous accusations of ties to the paramilitary AUC and her influence over politics.