Colombia’s police suspended the cooperation of former paramilitary commander “Otoniel” with the commission that is investigating the armed conflict.
Police intelligence unit DIJIN ended a visit of the Truth Commission to the former commander of paramilitary group AGC on Thursday.
The police ended the hearings after W Radio reported that Otoniel had begun revealing ties between the “world’s most wanted drug trafficker” and Colombia’s security forces.
The police obstructed the Truth Commission’s investigations by recording the hearings that are supposed to be confidential, according to W Radio.
W Radio
According to DIJIN, the hearing was suspended because the location where Otoniel is being held had “irresponsibly” been described.
This constituted a breach of the “entry and security protocols” and spurred the suspension, according to the police intelligence unit.
The police revealed that the former AGC chief was being detained in the DIJIN’s headquarters and published an image of Otoniel’s cell in November last year.
National Police
In a press release, the Truth Commission said that it had respected all security protocols and that the police “should allow this person to give a free and voluntary account.”
Truth Commission
The police did not respond to its reported failure to facilitate confidential meetings between Otoniel, his attorneys, the Truth Commission and the war crimes tribunal.