A new witness in the case against fugitive Luis Carlos Restrepo implicated Tuesday the former peace commissioner in a third allegedly false FARC demobilization.
The former guerrilla, Leyer Garcia Murillo, alias “Jhon Fredy,” now serving 40 years in prison, claimed that he was approached by Restrepo while he was incarcerated in Chinquinquira jail in the Boyaca department, according to Caracol Radio.
In their meeting, Restrepo allegedly began negotiations over organizing the fake surrender of FARC troops, claiming that he needed Murillo’s help in finding people.
Murillo told Caracol Radio, “He said, ‘Garcia, I see you as integral for us to organize a demobilization.’ I told him that I had no [weapons] cache but he told me that was not a problem, that I would get the people and that I should not worry about the weapons, that everything was a process. I said I would do it in exchange for my freedom…
“Then I was informed by Dr. [Alexander] Albarracin [advisor to Restrepo] that my release was not possible because I was sentenced to 40 years, but that I could be relocated wherever I wanted.”
The demobilization would have taken place in June 27, 2007, and would only have benefited those subversives convicted of the crime of rebellion.
Restrepo was a key member of the Uribe government during the controversial peace process with the AUC paramilitary organization and has been charged for his alleged role in the fake demobilization of the non-existent “Cacica Gaitana” FARC front.
The former peace commissioner faces charges of obstruction of justice, embezzlement, trafficking and the possession and manufacturing of weapons, all of which the defense strongly denied.
Restrepo fled Colombia purportedly for the United States on 8 January 2012, two days prior to his hearing before the Attorney General in Bogota.
A Bogota judge Saturday submitted a request to Interpol for a so-called red notice, or international arrest warrant, against the ex-peace commissioner.