Canada has granted political asylum to Colombia’s former peace commissioner who has skirted justice for over two years, according to Semana magazine.
Luis Carlos Restrepo fled the country in early 2012 after being accused of staging a false demobilization of an invented FARC unit known as the “Cicica Gaitana” Front. He is wanted on charges of conspiracy, embezzlement by appropriation, fraud, trafficking and possession of weapons, and a contempt of court charge over his disappearance.
Restrepo initially traveled to the United States, but his whereabouts have since been uncertain.
The former official, who oversaw paramilitary and guerrilla demobilizations during his tenure, is alleged to have plotted with imprisoned FARC guerrilla “Olivo Saldaña” and a drug trafficker to pay homeless and unemployed people in the central Tolima department $278 each to train, live and act like FARC guerrillas, then surrender to security forces.
The false demobilization took place shortly before Uribe’s reelection in 2006.
MORE: Uribe officials implicated in false demobilization scandal
The Canadian embassy could not immediately confirm or deny the alleged asylum.
Source
- Luis Carlos Restrepo consiguio asilo en Canada (Semana)
- Call to Canadian embassy