A former mayor in the east of Colombia, who has been charged with the murder of 30 people, remains at large, reported Associated Press Monday.
Flaminio Cocinero Costo has been charged alongside Army Colonel Juan Carlos Castañeda Villamizar, in relation to the deaths of at least 30 people in the municipality of Chameza, Casanare Department.
Cocinero, who served as mayor in the Casanare town of Recetor, is accused of involvement in the disappearance of dozens of peasants from the paramilitary Casanare Peasants’ Self-defense group between 2002 and 2003.
According to eyewitness testimony, peasants from the group, accused of collaboration with left-wing guerrillas, were tortured before being stabbed or shot.
Cocinero is accused of assisting in the preparation of lists of assassination targets, while then-commander of the Army’s 44th Battalion Castañeda is accused of colluding to not carry out operations where paramilitaries were undertaking such atrocities.
Castañeda is currently being held in a military prison in Bogota.
