Colombia’s State Council on Thursday declared the government liable in a “friendly fire” case and ordered them to pay the wounded soldier over $550,000.
According to local media, the “friendly fire” case occurred on May 4, 1995 when the soldier was patrolling in the rural municipality of Lejanias in the Meta department.
Colombia’s State Council ordered the government to pay Jose Reinero Idarraga more than half a million dollars in damages.
Reinero was on patrol when his battalion stumbled upon a group of armed men who allegedly opened fire on Reinero and his fellow soldiers, unaware that they were firing at their own side. Reinero was seriously injured in the violent confusion and left 95% paralyzed.
The Council’s ruling called the operation “a serious flaw” and brought attention to a case that the Council hopes “does not happen again.”
