The infamous drug lord Daniel Rendon Herrera, alias ‘Don Mario’ handed over US$100,000 in cash at a free hearing on Monday as what he called “compensation” for his victims.
Accion Social, the presidential agency for the displaced that collects money for victims, will handle the distribution of the money, according to a report by the Prosecutor General.
The former drug kingpin and paramilitary leader also announced he will hand over a private hospital and three farms, each valued at at least US$15 million, El Espectador reported. Several months ago authorities seized property belonging to ‘Don Mario’ valued at US$100 million.
‘Don Mario’ is appearing before the Prosecutor General this week in a free hearing in compliance with Colombia’s Justice and Peace Process, in which he is taking part. The drug lord announced that he was ready to confess the whole truth regarding the criminal activities of the Centaurs Bloc of the AUC paramilitaries, to which he was linked between 1991 and 2004. The Prosecutor General will question him over parapolitics and drug trafficking.
‘Don Mario’ was captured along with 18 members of his security ring on April 16 2009, in a rural area of Colombia’s department of Antioquia. He is believed to be responsible for 3,000 deaths.