The fraudulent demobilization of a FARC unit for which Colombia’s former peace commissioner is being investigated has cost the Colombian State over $630,000, said the Supreme Court Tuesday.
Local media reported that because of the damages caused to the Colombian presidency, the court has asked that the presidential administrative department be designated as a victim of the 2006 “false demobilization” scandal.
The fake demobilization of the fictitious FARC front “Cacica La Gaitana” was allegedly organized by former peace commissioner Luis Carlos Restrepo, imprisoned FARC guerrilla “Olivo Saldaña,” and drug trafficker Hugo Rojas Yepez. The three were accused of paying homeless and unemployed people to train, live and act like FARC guerrillas, and then surrender to security forces.
The court announced the administration as a victim of the scandal during the procession of retired general Lelio Suarez Tocarruncho, who has been accused as an accomplice in the crimes of procedural fraud, illegal possession of weapons, and embezzlement for the appropriation of third parties.
“In the demobilization of the [fake FARC] block over $630,000 was invested, money that was used in the logistics and economic benefits delivered to the alleged guerrillas. For this we investigate if the retired general could incur criminal conduct,” said the magistrate of the criminal division, Jorge Luis Barcelo.