A former guerrilla who was allegedly involved in the demobilization of a fictitious FARC unit was released from prison after 230 days passed without the commencement of a trial.
The former guerrilla, Felipe Alejandro Salazar, alias “Bioflo,” had been assisting authorities with prior investigations into the scandal known as “parapolitics” which saw hundreds of politicians investigated for their ties to paramilitary groups.
Bioflo is alleged to have been the commander of the fraudulent Cacicca Gaitana FARC front, whose demobilization in 2006 was allegedly organized by Colombia’s former peace commissioner, Luis Carlos Restrepo, who himself is being tried in absentia.
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Salazar provided damning testimony in the case against Restrepo under the pretext that his cooperation would result in a more lenient sentence. Indeed his initial arrest was viewed by some as a violation of the terms of the original agreement.
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The trial against the former rebel will continue, as will his freedom to enjoy his newfound liberty, at least until a verdict is reached.
