Two businessmen operating in northwestern Colombia have been convicted for ties to paramilitary groups, local media reported on Sunday.
According to reports, Luis Fernando Zea and Hector Duque were both sentenced to 10 years in prison for their links to a paramilitary group run by “Pedro Bonito.”
The two businessmen cultivated African oil palm plantations in Riosucio, Choco.
Prosecutors claimed that the businessmen utilized their links to this paramilitary group in order to illegally seize thousands of hectares of land off afrocolombian communities, thus benefiting their business.
The two businessmen were sentenced for the crimes of conspiracy to commit aggravated, forced displacement and land grabs.
According to reports, the lawyer representing the land claimants in this case received death threats after the plea hearing.