A Tolima judge cleared Gonzalo Garcia Angarita, former Colombian congressman, of conspiracy charges.
Garcia was arrested on December 2007 on aggravated conspiracy charges for his alleged ties with the Tolima Bloc of demobilized paramiltary organization AUC. According to former members of the demobilized paramilitary bloc, Garcia granted 10% of the municipal contracts to paramilitaries while serving as the mayor of Valle del San Juan from 2001 to 2003.
The District’s prosecutor and inspector agreed that the paramilitary witnesses’ allegations against Garcia had no probative value as they were contradictory.
Garcia said he never had any type of paramilitary support in his campaigns for mayor and House representative for Tolima.
The judge’s ruling, although it is appealable, releases Garcia from prison.
