A Colombian retired general was charged with five crimes related to the false demobilization of the illegal armed group “Cacica la Gaitana” on Monday.
Former general Leilo Suarez Tocarruncho was charged with embezzlement, fraud and two counts of illegal possession of firearms in relation to the false demobilization of the fake FARC Front, Cacica la Gaitana.
Investigations revealed that evidence and testimonies given against the official from the demobilized FARC linked him to the false demobilization of the Cacica la Gaitana arm of the FARC guerrilla group. One testimony from an ex-FARC member even described how the general bought the weapons for demobilization, allegedly from illegal armed groups operating in the north of the country.
The fake demobilization of the fictitious FARC Cacica la Gaitana Front was allegedly organized by former peace commissioner Luis Carlos Restrepo, imprisoned FARC guerrilla “Olivo Saldaña,” and drug trafficker Hugo Rojas Yepez. The three were accused of paying homeless and unemployed people to train, live and act like FARC guerrillas, and then surrender to security forces.
The prosecutor said that the crimes were committed by way of fraud and that the retired general Suarez had full knowledge of the illegal actions and therefore would be charged before the Criminal Chamber of the Supreme Court.
