Colombian court frees tortured female guerrillas

Colombia’s Supreme Court Thursday decided to annul the sentences of two female guerrillas who confessed to crimes while they were being tortured by the judicial police branch SIJIN.

The guerrillas were sentenced to six years in jail for their alleged involvement in planting a bomb in Bogota in 2004.

The court overruled the sentences because it found that the guerrillas had confessed under torture.

According to the women, plastic bags were placed over their heads and they were subjected to drowning techniques and electric shocks. They also allege that police officers threatened to sexually assault them with a blunt object if they did not confess.

The court said that confessions obtained under torture are inadmissible and ruled that the guerrillas be released.

Despite the court’s ruling, the women will be obliged to participate in a new investigation into the alleged terrorist attack.

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