The alleged FARC ambassador to Europe, recently arrested in Venezuela, has denied ties to guerrilla group, Caracol Radio reported Tuesday.
Joaquin Perez Becerra, alias “Alberto”, who was arrested in Venezuela on Saturday and subsequently deported to Colombia, has suggested that his arrest is purely political and that he maintains no links whatsoever to the FARC.
Alberto’s defense lawyer has claimed furthermore that his client’s arrest and the subsequent proceedings against him are illegal on the basis that he is now a Swedish citizen and has not been a Colombian citizen since 2000.
Alberto works for Sweden-based website Anncol which regularly publishes FARC press releases. He added that his arrest is simply an attempt to scare Anncol workers and is part of a “trial against freedom of expression.”