Former Senator Julio Manzur was expelled from the JEP

The JEP Chamber for the Definition of Legal Situations decided to exclude former conservative senator Julio Alberto Manzur Abdala from justice of the peace. The court noted that his contribution to the truth of the armed conflict was not enough, he did not bring anything new and tried to take responsibility for the facts of which he is accused.

On August 28, 2020, the same room of the JEP considered that the political agreements and meetings that Julio Alberto Manzur Abdala allegedly held with leaders of the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC) were intended to contribute to the consolidation of that organization's political and ideological project in the country and for that reason, accepted his submission as a decisive actor in the context of the armed conflict.

In its communiqué of April 20, the JEP said regarding this decision that: “Due to the nature of the crime for which he has been investigated by the ordinary criminal justice system, the appearing Manzur was expected to provide novel information about paramilitary groups and their alliances with the regional political class. However, in the proceedings, it limited itself to referring to facts and circumstances that have been clarified in the ordinary jurisdiction, as well as in the Justice and Peace processes,” said the JEP.

It may interest you: Alias Otoniel declares before the JEP and splashes out members of the Colombian Military Forces

After this determination, the case of the former senator will return to the Criminal Cassation Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice, for the crime of a concert to commit an aggravated crime. Among the accusations against Manzur Abdala, it is noted that he held meetings with paramilitary chiefs Salvatore Mancuso and Carlos Castaño Gil.

File No. 27,920 of the Supreme Court of Justice states that the politician from Córdoba “entered into political agreements with members of paramilitary groups to support a candidate for the Government of Córdoba in 2003, for his own candidacy for the same government in the 2006 elections, as well as the appointment of other officials in public office in the department”.

Among the reasons that the special justice delivered for the exclusion of Manzur Abdala was that he insisted on excusing himself of his responsibilities, noting that he had casual encounters with criminal leaders, but that they obeyed humanitarian reasons, situations that for the ordinary justice system revealed “his interest in taking part in the the illegal project of the self - defense groups and the determined support it gave to it”.

It may interest you: JEP grants freedom to Captain (r) Juan Carlos Dueñas for his contribution to the truth

Among other statements made by Manzur to the JEP, he said that he met Salvatore Mancuso but never had close communication. But in 2012 and before the Supreme Court of Justice, the paramilitary chief appointed him as one of his allies in Córdoba. For his part, Fredy Rendón Herrera, alias El Alemán, commander of the AUC's Elmer Cardenas Bloc, identified him as a key ally.

El Espectador also reported that the JEP Information Analysis Group submitted a report to the Definition Room, in which they link Manzur to the Ralito Pact.

This was an initiative led by the AUC leadership, in which 65 attendees participated, including senators, representatives, mayors and governors from all over the country. As reported by the group and an investigation by the Verdad Abierta portal, Manzur was part of one of the three circles arranged at that meeting.

KEEP READING: