|
Former
Colombian "Guerillero" Detained
in Costa Rica
Costa Rican authorities have had
their hands full these last
couple of days, beginning with
Thursday afternoon's detainment
of former Colombian "guerillero"
(guerilla), Libardo Parra
Vargas.
Raids on his home and storage
warehouse resulted in the
confiscation of more than one
million dollars in cash,
firearms, 25 cellular telephones
and valued pieces of art among
other things.
The detainment of Parra began on
the autopista Fernando Prospero,
about two kilometres east of the
Multiplaza almost to the Escazú
exit, where the Colombian lived.
A check of the vehicle was
driving, police discovered some
us$40.000 in cash. The Colombian
said he had just gone shopping.
However, a raid on Parra's home
netted another us$30.000 and the
us$1 million in the warehouse in
nearby Guachipelin.
Libardo Parra Vargas, 46 years
of age, is wanted by authorities
in his native country, sentenced
to 24 years in prison for
extortion and kidnapping back in
1995.
Parra has lived in Costa Rica,
freely moving to an from
Nicaragua regularly, according
to police and INTERPOL, who has
been on Parra's for some time.
His home in barrio Corazón de
Jesús in Escazú is a luxurious
spread overlooking the city.
Authorities say that the
tallying has yet to be finished
as they still have not been able
to open a strong safe found in
the warehouse.
Parras, who is a former member
of the Colombian M-19 squad and
known for his taking over the of
the Palacio de Justicia in
Bogotá in 1985, said "I am not
aware of the charges made
against me in Colombia, a
country that I have not been to
in many years."
Parra has been living in Costa
Rica since 2004.
According to the Ministerio de
Seguridad Pública, Colombia will
be making a request for the
extradition of Parra so that he
can complete his prison
sentence.
The Colombian was ordered to two
months preventive detention
while authorities continue the
investigation into his
activities in Costa Rica before
handing him over to Colombian
authorities under an extradition
request.
|
|
Libardo Parra Vargas, former
guerilla for the Colombian M-19 squad was arrested in Escazú on
Thursday and is being held while Colombia makes an extradition
request. Parra said he is not aware of the charges against in
Colombia, where he was sentenced to 20 years prison for kidnapping
and extortion. Costa Rican authorities are investigating if Parras
was involved in any extortion and kidnappings in Costa Rica. |
|
|
|
|
|
