International police organization Interpol on Wednesday accepted the Colombian request to issue an international arrest warrant for a former top government official and close ally of former President Alvaro Uribe.
Former Peace Commissioner Luis Carlos Restrepo is suspected to be hiding in the United States after he fled Colombia in January, weeks before he was charged with fraud relating to his alleged role in the fake demobilization of a non-existent FARC unit just before the 2006 elections.
Restrepo is charged with malfeasance, embezzlement, procedural fraud, and arms trafficking.
Interpol had previously denied the request of Colombian authorities to include the former Uribe aide on the international list of fugitives list due to procedural errors.
General Carlos Ramiro, responsible for Interpol-related matters within the National Police, has now stated that Restrepo has been added to Interpol’s “red notice” list.
Restrepo’s defense attorney, Mildred Hartmann, told Colombia Reports that interpol’s decision to accept the request does not mean the international police organization will issue an international arrest warrant.