Extradited narco-trafficker Olmes Duran has claimed that he was offered “judical benefits” by Supreme Court representatives in exchange for testifying against former Senator Juan Carlos Martinez Sinisterra over his alleged connections to paramilitaries.
Duran, who is now imprisoned in the United States, said that while in Combita Maximum Security Prison two men, claiming to be delegates of the Supreme Court, but whose names he does not remember, offered him benefits in prison if he were to testify against the senator. Duran claims he rejected the offer.
In a video conference from the U.S., Duran denied that he had asked the paramilitaries of the Calima Bloc to support the senator.
This was in response to allegations from demobilized paramilitary commander Evert Veloza Garcia, alias ‘H.H.,’ who said Duran came to him to ask for support for the political campaign of the ex-senator.
The court is investigating the relationship between Martinez and the ex-drug lord, especially since the ex-senator witnessed the Durran’s wedding, Carocal Radio reports.
While Durran admits the senator attended the wedding and that they were childhood friends he denies that the relationship was ongoing or that he had any political dealings with him.
Similarly, El Espectador reports that Martinez has denied having links with criminal organizations and said that while he attended the wedding he was unaware that the ex-drug lord was engaged with illegal activities.