Colombia’s Supreme Court opened a preliminary investigation into whether former senator Alvaro Araujo Castro, who was convicted of paramilitary ties, could be tried for crimes against humanity, reports La FM.
The court will study the documents from Araujo’s case to determine if it is possible to build a case of crimes against humnaity against him.
The court ruled in March that Araujo had conspired with former paramilitary leader Rodrigo Tovar Pupo, alias “Jorge 40” to intimidate voters with violence in the lead up to the 2002 elections. Araujo was sentenced to to nine years and three months in prison for “parapolitics.”
Araujo was also ordered to pay a fine equalling 7,222 times the minimum wage, or just over $56,000.
The Supreme Court reopened the case against Araujo, after overruling his acquittal by Prosecutor Maria del Rocio Cortes Vargas, who had cleared him of any responsibility.
Araujo was first accused of having paramilitary ties in early 2006 by now presidential candidate, Gustavo Petro.
He was arrested on February 7, 2007 for having links to paramilitaries, as well as alleged involvement in the kidnapping and extorsion of the brother of former Mayor of Valledupar, Elias Ochoa.
Araujo’s sister, Maria Consuelo Araujo Castro, resigned from her position as Minister of Foreign Relations following the arrest of her brother.
Their father, Alvaro Araujo Noguera, has also been widely accused of having links to paramilitary groups.
