A Bogotá judge ordered the release of two suspected messengers of the FARC, because the suspects were not indicted on time.
The two assumed guerrillas had been in jail since November 2007 after being caught just outside Colombian capital with proof-of-life material of several hostages held by the FARC, including Ingrid Betancourt, three U.S. military contractors and the other hostages that later would be released in ‘Operation Jaque’.
The judge ordered both the Prosecutor General and the Attorney General to repectively criminally and disciplinary investigate officials of the prison authorities, who allegedly stalled the procedures to indict the suspects.
Prosecutor General Mario Iguarán did not rule out corrupt officials were the reason for the delay.
“After all the efforts to make some catches, to conduct an investigation, formulate an indictment and in the stage of the trial where we already handed in requests to convict these terrorists, they obtain freedom for negligence or alleged offenses,” Iguarán told Caracol Radio.
Prison authority director Teresa Moya Suta denied corruption or intentional delay of her officials.
“We should not forget that the judicial branch and the Prosecutor General’s Office were on strike for 40 days and that that is the real reason the term expired,” she told the same radio station.
Iguarán said that, despite the set back, the Prosecution will continue to investiagte the alleged guerrillas.