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An old letter from a senior US official could play a role in Colombia’s fight for ex-paramilitary Salvatore Mancuso to return to answer for his crimes.
As EL TIEMPO revealed at dawn last Sunday, the Trump government decided to stop his deportation to Italy, arguing that it would be detrimental to his interests. And, citing national security reasons, he announced that he would be sent to Colombia.
(We invite you to read: Colombia asked for the deportation of ‘Jorge 40’; free tomorrow in the US)
And throughout the week they have described him as a dangerous subject for society, as support for his retention, despite the fact that on March 27 he finished serving 12 years in prison.
Even Judge Richard J. León, who ordered his deportation to Italy, denied the precautionary measures requested by his defense and admitted that he could not oppose the political decision to send him to Bogotá.
(It may interest you: the US decides to deport Mancuso Colombia but can still appeal)
But in a letter from Paul O’Brian, then head of the Department of Justice’s Anti-Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Office (addressed to the Colombian Prosecutor’s Office, on December 1, 2008), it is made clear that the United States knows what Mancuso has revealed about influential Colombian politicians and military (active and retired), which could put him in danger.
This is Paul O’Brian’s letter on Mancuso’s statements.
Politicians and high-ranking uniforms
Mancuso, author of dozens of bloody massacres, gave details of these links in versions delivered to the Colombian prosecutor Leonardo Cabana on November 18, 19 and 20, 2008.
And he expanded the information in dozens of subsequent hearings.
At that time, the Uribe government had just extradited him (March 2008) and the paramilitary was willing to tell everything, under the supervision of federal officials.
(Also: What Salvatore Mancuso will tell if the US returns him to Colombia)
“During the free version, Mancuso appointed several high-ranking military, police and political officials who provided material support to the criminal activities of the AUC,” O’Brian said.
Court Witness
He added: “Some of these people no longer belong to government agencies, while others are very active members of the armed forces, politics, and law enforcement in Colombia (…). In addition to his statements in free version, as you know, Mancuso has testified and continues to be a witness in the processes before the Supreme Court of Colombia.
That is why he asked the Prosecutor’s Office to protect his family, who could be the target of reprisals.
(You may be interested: What Salvatore Mancuso confessed about the El Aro massacre)
“Consequently, the United States supports Mr. Cabana’s request asking the Colombian government to assess the threat against members of Mancuso’s family and take the measures,” says the letter that Mancuso’s defense will use to demonstrate that (according to them) there is a “political hunt” against the once powerful ‘expara’. In fact, his defense will use this and other evidence to try to get the United States to agree to leave Mancuso in that country, under the umbrella of the Convention against Torture.
The case of ‘Jorge 40’
Rodrigo Tovar Pupo, alias Jorge 40.
The requirement is for Mancuso to prove that state agents are endangering his life, and O’Brian’s letter appears to help. It is even pointed out that another person who could attest to the seriousness of Mancuso’s confessions is Robert Spelke, a lawyer for the Department of Justice, responsible for his prosecution.
“Many of those mentioned are still in power. The JEP already has a letter with names, “said Mancuso’s defense.
While defining its judicial future, EL TIEMPO revealed this Saturday that Colombia has already requested the deportation to the country of Rodrigo Tovar Pupo, alias Jorge 40.
The ‘expara’ meets his 12-year sentence this Sunday and will go from the Pennsylvania Jail to an Immigration Jail and quarantine.
“Considering the criminal charges pending in Colombia against Mr. Tovar Pupo, the Republic of Colombia considers his return to the country of utmost importance in order to protect the rights of the victims to truth, justice, reparation and the guarantees of no repetition, ”says the Foreign Ministry.
This is the letter that the Foreign Ministry filed this week requesting the deportation of ‘Jorge 40’.
And he adds: “In this regard, the Ministry of Justice has requested information from the United States on Mr. Tovar, who was excluded from the Justice and Peace program and must return to Colombia in order to comply with the requirements of the authorities and respond in the judicial process initiated against him on various criminal charges ”.
One of them is the crime of Professor Alfredo Correa de Andréis (2004) and others, linked to his paramilitary activity.
EL TIEMPO established that ’40’ – whose lawyer in the United States, Joaquín Pérez, was the same as Mancuso – is preparing a statement in which he will say that he is willing to return, but under security guarantees.
Letter of deportation procedure from Jorge 40 to the United States.
According to those close to the ‘expara’, he will insist on being welcomed at the JEP.
This jurisdiction has already warned him that they would accept him as a civil third party for activities between 1996 and 1998, the time of his transition from rancher to ‘para’. But the rest of the crimes would remain under the orbit of ordinary justice.
(See here all the articles of the Investigative Unit of EL TIEMPO)
The Government of Colombia is also reviewing the case of the drug trafficker Miguel Ángel Mejía, alias el Mellizo, who tries to avoid his return to Colombia, where he has outstanding debts, after being expelled from Justice and Peace.
INVESTIGATIVE UNIT
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On twitter: @UinvestigativaET
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