The trial against Salvatore Mancuso, former leader of paramilitary
group United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC), Wednesday started
in Bogota and Washington.
The Colombian Prosecution charged Mancuso — currently in a U.S. jail — with more than 112 crimes, such as massacres, forced displacement, recruitment of children and killings of unionists.
“The former paramilitary leader now complies with the requirements of the Justice and Peace Law to obtain an alternative sentence of five to eight years”, the Prosecutor said during the hearing, which was broadcast via satellite to six cities in Colombia.
“Mancuso started to compensate the victims of his crimes”, the Prosecutor added. “72 families of the Cordoba department received their lands back after the forced displacement by the AUC.”
‘El Mono’ Mancuso led several of the AUC’s blocks and was the leader of the umbrella organization. Under his command, the paramilitaries agreed to demobilize.
Mancuso’s hearings will last until Friday, verdadabierta.com reported.