Colombian Court
Authorizes Former
Paramilitary Chief's
Extradition to U.S.
Colombia's Supreme Court
authorized on Wednesday
the extradition to the
United States of former
paramilitary chief
Carlos Mario Jimenez
alias "Macaco," who is
accused of illicit drug
trafficking and money
laundering.
The court's President
Francisco Ricaurte said
on Wednesday that "Macaco,
former commander of the
Bolivar Central Block,
that operated in
northern Colombia, is
wanted by a U.S. court
in the District of
Columbia".
"The former regional
chief of Colombia's
United Self-Defense (AUC)
paramilitary group must
stand trial for drug
trafficking and money
laundering, as well as
financing terrorism,"
stated Ricaurte.
Jimenez's case will now
be handed over to
Colombian President
Alvaro Uribe, who has
refused to extradite
former paramilitaries
demobilized in mid 2006.
President Alvaro Uribe
said he would sign the
order to extradite
Carlos Jimenez, adding
"the government
announced its decision
and it will be carried
out."
If Jimenez loses the
Peace and Justice Law
benefits, created by
Uribe's government to
demobilize the AUC, he
will be extradited.
Jimenez is accused of
continuing to commit
crimes while imprisoned
in Colombia.
Colombia's Supreme Court
also called on the
executive power to
comply with legal
principles, to try to
make ultra right-wingers
confess the truth about
their crimes and repair
damages with real
repentance.
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