Captured drug lord ‘Don Mario’ was excluded from participating in the Justice and Peace Law.
The Colombian High Court of Justice and Peace announced the former paramilitary was not eligible to become a ‘manager of peace’ because he did not comply with the necessary requirements, including voluntarily turning himself in and collaborating with Colombian justice. ‘Don Mario’ was captured by authorities on April 15.
Following the Court’s announcement, ‘Don Mario’s’ counsel withdrew his request to participate in the program, which affords benefits, such as reduced sentences,
to armed rebels in exchange for their demobilization and collaboration
with justice.
The captured drug lord had previously request to be made a ‘manager of peace’ in exchange for the demobilization of 6,000 of his men.
Authorities had expressed surprised at his offer because he had already been kicked out of the former paramilitary organization AUC’s demobilization
program due to his
continuous refusal to collaborate with authorities.
‘Don Mario’ is the second paramilitary chief to be excluded from the law. The first was Luis
Arnulfo ‘Memin’ Tuberquia, commander of the north-east front of the AUC.
Now that he is exluded from Justice and Peace, ‘Don Mario’ will be handed over to the ordinary justice system. For crimes including murder and drug trafficking he could receive up to 50 years in jail and face possible extradition to the U.S. El Colombiano reported.
He was indicted in the U.S in April for the crimes of drug trafficking and supporting terrorism.
