Former Governor pleads guilty to working with paramilitaries
Former Governor pleads guilty to working with paramilitaries
Oct 8, 2014 posted by Nicolas Bedoya
The former governor of the coastal state of Cordoba has pleaded guilty to facilitating land theft, displacement and working with paramilitaries in hopes of acquiring benefits during sentencing.
The former governor of Cordoba, Benito Osorio, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy, money laundering, deportation, expulsion, forced displacement, destruction of property, and being a frontman. Osorio was appointed by former president Alvaro Uribe but kicked out of office 17 days later for his links with paramilitaries.
MORE: Prosecutor general orders arrest of former governor over forced displacement claims
Osorio confessed to having participated in the displacement of 100 families during 1997 to 2007 as President of Cordoba’s rancher’s association.
As President of Cordoba’s rancher’s association, Osorio presided over the displacement strategies and the rural takeover plans of the paramilitaries. Osorio knew of the paramilitary’s acquisition of 1,500 acres in Cordoba to bury bodies there. Osorio even knew where the AUC paramilitary leader, Carlos Castaño set up his headquarters, according to El Tiempo newspaper. As governor, Osorio took over 16 properties with the help of paramilitary boss Salvatore Mancuso, according to Caracol Radio.
Osorio also ratted out the President of Fedegan, Jose Feliz Lafaurie, according to El Tiempo newspaper. Fedegan is perhaps Colombia’s most powerful and influential agricultural guild, representing the nation’s cattle ranchers and land owners.
More:
http://colombiareports.co/para-politician-accuses-president-colombias-cattle-association-working-paramilitaries/
