A Colombian judge ordered Thursday the country’s fugitive former peace commissioner to be sent to jail while awaiting trial over his role in the false demobilization of a non-existent FARC brigade.
Luis Carlos Restrepo fled Colombia for the United States on 8 January 2012, two days prior to his hearing before the Attorney General in Bogota.
The judge agreed with the prosecution that there is sufficient evidence in order to send him to prison.
“In the opinion of this office there is evidence that enables us to infer that the accused participated in the events under investigation,” said the judge.
The magistrate explained that Restrepo had left the country and that his whereabouts are still not known. The judge affirmed that “It is proper, appropriate and necessary to impose a security measure against Luis C. Restrepo,” saying that his non-appearance at the proceedings is the main reason for the ruling.
But the court official stated that despite the seriousness of his crimes the former government official does not pose an immediate risk to society.
Restrepo was the key member of the Uribe government during the controversial peace process with paramilitary organization AUC and is suspected of having coordinated the fake demobilization of the “Cacica Gaitana” front.
The former peace commissioner is accused of obstruction of justice, embezzlement, trafficking and the possession and manufacturing of weapons, all of which the defense strongly denied.
Restrepo left the country to an unrevealed destination only weeks before charges were brought against him.