The nearly 50 victims of pyramid scheme DRFE that occupied a church in
the south Colombian city Pasto Monday ended their demonstration after
five hours.
The 150 people that were in the church when the protesters seized it were never held by them, but stayed with the occupiers out of solidarity, local police told radiostation Caracol Radio.Police had earlier said the worshipers were held hostage.
Many of the churchgoers lost their money in the collapsed pyramid scheme just like the protesters did.
Three protesters, who continued to demand talks with local authorities about the suspension of electricty and water bills, stayed chained inside the church after the other protesters went home.
Hundreds of thousands of Colombians are believed to have lost their savings when the DRFE pyramid collapsed and suspected pyramid scheme and money launderer DMG was shut down by authorities. The majority of these investors live in the south ofteh country.