Colombia’s Prosecutor General asked Thursday for an arrest warrant for the country’s former Peace Commissioner, who is being investigated for his alleged role in the faking of the demobilization of a non-existent FARC front.
According to the director of Prosecution Offices, the request was made to a judge after Restrepo failed to appear before the authorities for questioning, and because according to the country’s Foreign Minister, the former official has left the country despite the criminal investigation against him.
The former peace commissioner is one of the closest aides of former President Alvaro Uribe, who has already seen his former agriculture minister and chief of staff put behind bars over an embezzlement scandal and the illegal wiretapping of government opponents, respectively.
Uribe’s former spy chief, also charged for her role in the wiretap scandal, fled to Panama before charges were brought against her.
Retrepo is being investigated not only for his alleged role in the false demobilization of the “Cacica Gaitana” FARC front, but also for allegedly fraudulently helped drug trafficker “El Tuso” receive legal benefits for surrendering to authorities, and plotting with demobilized paramilitary organization AUC in inflating numbers of demobilized paramilitary fighters.
Restrepo has always insisted he was innocent and has been supported by Uribe, who says he and his allies are the victim of “criminal vengeance” and “political persecution.”