Extradited FARC leader alias “Cesar,” who according to WikiLeaks tried to make a deal to free Ingrid Betancourt in exchange for his freedom, cannot be found in U.S. court records, Noticias Uno reported Tuesday.
The Colombian government refused to comment Tuesday about the suggestion that FARC leader Gerardo Aguilar Ramirez, alias “Cesar,” is not serving time in a U.S. prison but rather struck a deal to allow him and his family to flee to Europe.
Defense Minister Rodrigo Rivera said that President Juan Manuel Santos ordered staff not to give declarations in relation to the recent release of WikiLeaks cables.
“Alias ‘Cesar’ is extradited and I don’t have reason to think he is doing anything other than paying a penalty in the United States, or that his family is protected in another country,” Caracol Radio quoted Rivera as saying.
Noticias Uno reported Tuesday that neither Ramirez nor his wife Nancy Conde can be found in the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) database.
A Colombia Reports search of the Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator revealed no information on Ramirez or his wife.
Armed forces commander Admiral Edgar Cely said to media, “You all have time to read WikiLeaks, I only have time to think about the operations and the country’s security. Leave us to progress to the other side,” reported Noticias Uno.
A WikiLeaks cable from 2008 released on Sunday revealed that the former commander of the FARC’s 1st Front attempted to negotiate the release of hostage Ingrid Betancourt in exchange for the release of his wife and kids by the Colombian government as well as permission for he and his family to flee to France.
Cesar’s wife, Nancy Conde, alias “Doris Adriana” was extradited by the U.S. Department of Justice for charges of conspiracy to provide material support or resources to a foreign terrorist organization and providing material support or resources to a terrorist organization.
On July 2, 2008, Cesar was arrested and former presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt was freed in the military offense named “Operation Checkmate.”
After being extradited to the U.S. in 2009 to be charged with drug offenses, a New York judge sentenced Ramirez to 27 years in prison for drug trafficking.
