The Colombian Supreme Court Wednesday sentenced former congressman Humberto de Jesus Builes Ortega to seven and a half years in jail for his ties to demobilized paramilitary leader Freddy Rendon Herrera, alias “El Aleman.”
El Aleman testified to the prosecutor general that he had had contact with Builes Ortega. However, according to the inspector general, the former paramilitary has psychological issues, and his testimony was inconsistent and lacking in credibility.
As a result the inspector general requested that the testimony be dismissed and argued that Builes Ortega should be found innocent.
The court ruled Builes Ortega guilty and ordered him to pay a fine equivalent to 2,600 minimum monthly salaries, or COP1.3 billion (around $700,000).
The ruling cannot be appealed, and Builes Ortega will be transferred to Bogota’s La Picota prison.
The Supreme Court denied a request for El Aleman’s extradition to the U.S. and he remains in a prison in Itagui, a municipality neighboring Medellin. El Aleman is participating in Colombia’s Justice and Peace process.
