The defense for Sigifredo Lopez, a former politician accused of arranging his own kidnapping with the FARC along with 11 others, requested the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) turn over their voice analysis of a video allegedly showing Lopez colluding with FARC members.
The results of the analysis remain unknown, according to Lopez’s lawyer, Alfredo Montenegro. The videotape was handed over to the FBI on May 30.
Both the defense and prosecution are still waiting for testimonies in the case against Lopez.
On Thursday, Montenegro filed an appeal under a habeas corpus writ, which argued that the prosecution had exceeded the time allowable to detain Lopez without trial.
Judge Maria Patricia Cruz ruled that the prosecution has 20 days to gather evidence, meaning the former mayoral candidate could be held until June 20.
Lopez was arrested May 16 for his alleged complicity in his own kidnapping, as well as the abduction of 11 other deputies from the department of Valle del Cauca in 2002. He is the sole survivor of the 12 politicians who were taken from an assembly building in western Colombia and killed five years later in FARC captivity.
