Key witness in Colombia’s police prostitution ring probe ‘kidnapped’

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Colombia Reports

Key witness in Colombia’s police prostitution ring probe ‘kidnapped’
Posted by Adriaan Alsema on Mar 13, 2016

The police captain who blew the whistle on an alleged gay prostitution ring run within Colombia’s National Police department has been kidnapped, his family said Sunday.

Captain Anyelo Palacio, who disappeared on Saturday around 10PM, has claimed he was drugged and raped by a police general who at the time was the security chief of Congress and is the main witness of the alleged prostitution of hundreds of cadets. According to Palacio’s mother, her son was kidnapped by four men while driving through the municipality of Pamplonita, Norte de Santander.

The National Police’s deputy director, General Ricardo Restrepo, and anti-kidnapping chief General Fabio Hernan Lopez traveled to Norte de Santander capital Cucuta to lead the investigation, according to the National Police.

. . .

Palacio has been the prosecution’s key witness in the investigation of the alleged prostitution ring that allegedly catered to the sexual needs of top officials and congressmen.

Read more: http://colombiareports.com/key-witness-colombias-police-prostitution-ring-probe-disappeared/

[Eugene]

1. Colombia police scandal whistleblower flees from captors

Source: BBC

Colombia police scandal whistleblower flees from captors

14 March 2016 Latin America & Caribbean

A Colombian whistleblower who was kidnapped on Saturday has escaped his captors, police have announced.

Police captain Anyelo Palacios hit the headlines when he alleged he was the victim of a male prostitution ring within the police.

His stepfather said he was seized by armed men in Norte de Santander province late on Saturday.

Colombia's police chief Gen Jorge Nieto refused to speculate about the possible motives for the kidnapping.

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Read more: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-35803492

[Judi Lynn]

3. Thanks for the news on this kidnapping. Your BBC account says he escaped. Very helpful.

There's a good chance that was the only way he was going to get away from them, considering the circumstances.

[Judi Lynn]

2. Kidnapped key witness of police prostitution ring found alive

Kidnapped key witness of police prostitution ring found alive
Posted by Adriaan Alsema on Mar 14, 2016

The police captain who is a key witness in the investigation of a prostitution ring within Colombia’s National Police and was kidnapped on Saturday has been found alive, according to the institution.

Captain Anyelo Palacios was kidnapped in the northeastern Norte de Santander province months after his testimonies about the so-called “Community of the Ring” spured the resignation of the vice-Minister of the Interior and the director of the National Police.

However, while the investigation was only just beginning, unknown men kidnapped the police captain while he was driving through Pamplonita, a municipality in the northeastern Norte de Santander Province.

Around 1AM Sunday, the officer’s family received a phone call informing her that her son was found alive, but severely beaten up and suffering hypothermia, according to radio station La FM.

More:
http://colombiareports.com/kidnapped-key-witness-police-prostitution-ring-found-alive/