The assumed dead Vicente Castaño on Thursday was sentenced in absentia for the murder of his brother ex-AUC leader Carlos Castaño Gil.
A Bogota court sentenced Jose Vicente Castaño alias ” El Profe” to 40 years along with eight other former AUC members for the murder of the AUC founder, Carlos Castaño.
The ruthless leader from Amalfi, Antioquia started the United Self Defense Forces of Colombia together with his brother Fidel in 1997 to combat FARC guerrillas and over time grew critical of the organization’s links with drug trafficking.
It is suspected that his death in April of 2004 was ordered by top AUC leaders, including his brother Vicente, who were increasingly involved in the lucrative drug trafficking business.
Accounts from different former paramilitaries and Colombia’s inteligence agency DAS have presumed Jose Vicente Castaño to be dead, but remains have not been recovered and his death has not been confirmed.