A cattle rancher in central Colombia has been sentenced to four years in prison for financing paramilitaries in the region, reported local media Thursday.
Hernando Montes was indicted for conspiracy for funding the Cacique Pipinta bloc of the AUC, which operated mainly in the Caldas department. The now-defunct front financially supported the 2002 presidential campaign of former President Alvaro Uribe, its former commander claimed last year.
The front’s ex-commander, Pablo Hernan Sierra, alias ‘Alberto Guerro,’ testified that Montes provided money and collected resources from other ranchers in the zone that contributed to the group.
Two former paramilitaries made additional statements claiming Montes gave members food and clothing as well as allowed the organization to store weapons and stolen cars at his ranch.
In addition to his four- year sentence, Montes will have to pay a fine of $300,000.
