Former paramilitary leaders said Monday they have been threatened to prevent them from incriminating emerald magnate Victor Carranza over the businessman’s alleged paramilitary activity.
According to Colombian media, demobilized AUC chief Freddy Rendon Herrera, alias “El Aleman,” and fellow paramilitary Jose Ignacio Roldan, alias “Mono Leche,” both testified before prosecutors that they have received threats.
“Mono Leche” went as far as asking Carranza to “demobilize” and join the government’s “Justice and Peace” program that allows paramilitaries to receive reduced sentencing in exchange for their confessions and the reparation of their victims.
None of the media reports mentioned that the two ex-paramilitaries made accusations against the “emerald czar.”
Carranza, Colombia’s most prominent emerald trader, has been controversial for years because of numerous allegations of his paramilitary activity in the east of Colombia where the magnate enjoys great power.
The mogul spent years in jail over his paramilitary activity, but was absolved of all allegations. He survived several attacks on his life allegedly carried out by members of ERPAC who are active in the same region as Carranza.
The emerald magnate has always denied any links to paramilitary groups.