Gangland “most wanted” freed by mistake

The release of José Cossio the leader of the notorious Calor Calor gang from Punta  Coco maximum security prison by a substitute judge, who did not follow the procedural rules.

This is concluded by a resolution issued by the Second Superior Court on May 10, 2021, which revoked the decision.

The resolution – to which La Prensa had access – specifies: “it is evident that the action of the liquidating judge Gerardo Ríos (in his capacity as a substitute) is not covered by the procedural norms, since the court responded to a request in contravention of the provisions of article 509 of the Penal Code ”.

The norm stipulates that the compliance judge is the competent authority to decide on the control of the execution of the sentence and that requests that imply a decision of this nature must be resolved during a hearing, in which the prosecutor must be present. of the case, the defense, and the compliance judge.

The court’s resolution expresses its “concern” over the decision taken by Ríos, which allowed Cossio’s freedom on September 14, 2020, until last Saturday, when he was detained at a police checkpoint in Costa del Este.

To order Cossio’s release, Ríos considered that he had already served the 74-month prison sentence imposed on him for drug-related crimes.

In addition to the fact that Ríos was not competent to grant the detainee’s freedom, it did not take into account that he had escaped from the La Joya Penitentiary Center on September 30, 2014, and that he was recaptured in Costa Rica and transferred to Panama on May 2, 2014. 2015, for which the sentence had been interrupted, the court noted.

“Thus, this court, administering justice, declares the nullity of the release of freedom

Sources linked to the process said that it was the Public Ministry that noticed the irregularities in the release of the detainee, which led to a review of the actions of the substitute judge Ríos.

Cossio was sentenced to 74 months in prison for the offense of aggravated possession of drugs and then a sanction of 38 additional months was applied to him for escaping the La Joya Penitentiary Center.

On Monday afternoon, under strong security measures, Cossio was escorted to the Albrook Airport to be transferred by plane of the National Aeronaval Service (Senan) to the Punta Coco prison.

Crime sheet
Cossio is considered the leader of the Calor Calor gang, the link to an assault in 2005 at the Bank of China branch in Colón,  in which the $2.5 million was stolen.

In 2007 an investigation was opened for his alleged connection to a homicide. Later, in 2010, he was convicted in the United States of conspiracy to distribute cocaine.

In 2013, he was investigated link to the murder of the model Mily Jeans, whose body was found on Centenario road.