Twelve former members of the Guevarista Revolutionary Army (ERG) admitted to more than 40 kidnappings in central and northwestern Colombia, reported various media Friday.
The former guerrillas were put on trial through the Justice and Peace commission, which was implemented in 2006 and is intended to offer illegal armed groups reduced prison sentences if they voluntarily turn themselves in.
They admitted to having conducted nearly 44 kidnappings in the southwestern region of the Antioquia department, and in the department of Choco between 1997 and 2004.
Former commander Olimpo de Jesus Sanchez Caro, alias “Cristobal,” confessed to having ordered disappearances and four murders, two of which were the result of unpaid ransoms.
In one case, the guerrillas admitted to having kidnapped and killed Mrs. Luz Amparo Velez Correa. The guerrillas allegedly continued to demand money from relatives from Mrs. Correa’s relatives after they had murdered her.
In the judicial proceedings that took place this week, the perpetrator of the murder of Mrs. Velez Correa, alias “Paraco,” asked forgiveness from the families of the victims who attended the Medellin courthouse.