A former Colombian Peace Commissioner who went in to hiding to escape corruption charges may never return, said his attorney on Wednesday.
Luis Carlos Restrepo, who is wanted for his alleged role in the faking of the 2006 demobilization of a non-existent FARC unit whereupon the national government paid homeless people to pose as defected left-wing guerrillas, worked under the administration of former Colombian president Alvaro Uribe before reportedly fleeing the country in early 2012.
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Mildred Hartman, lawyer to the missing commissioner, noted in Colombia’s La W radio that her client may not even still be in Colombia.
Hartman stressed that “the prosecutor’s bias is evident,” noting that Restrepo would not stand a chance of redemption in court, signaling that he fears possible punishment.
The prosecutor to the case was also asked if the rumors were true, that the United States government knows the former commissioner’s locaton, he simply said, “I do not want to refer to the issue.”
The arraignment of Restrepo had to be postponed for a fourth time in early 2013 due to his absence, however, if he ever does face up to the allegations, he could face up to 20 years in prison.
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The former peace commissioner was a key government official working on the demobilization of illegal armed groups during the administration of former president Alvaro Uribe.