12 Apostles death squad trial set

THE YOUNGER brother  of former Colombian president Álvaro Uribe’s has been called to trial  accused of  sponsoring the creation of paramilitary death squads  in the 1990s.

Santiago Uribe, 58, was arrested in Medellin in March, 2016 and held  in  preventive detention for the crimes of “homicide and offense” a  technical  wording for a pact between two or more people to commit an undetermined number of crimes.

The information was confirmed by Colombia’s  El Tiempo. The cattle rancher could face up to 20 years in jail if found  guilty.

He  allegedly promoted the formation of a group of hired assassins from his farm , in the town of Yarumal, 300 kilometers to the Northwest of the Colombian capital, a  prosecution spokesman for the prosecution told The Associated Press (AP) .

The case is based, mainly, on testimonies including  Juan Carlos Meneses, a retired  police major who in May 2010 accused Santiago Uribe of having created a

“social cleansing”  group known las “the 12 Apostles”.

Santiago Uribe has pleaded not guilty and said he was the victim of a  political plot as the brother of  the former president.

The Twelve Apostles  have been linked to the disappearances of dozens of left-wing rebels, drug addicts and criminals in the Antioquia region.

Uribe  denies any involvement with the notorious death squad. Major Juan Carlos Meneses,  said that many of the crimes were planned in the Uribe family’s farm.

Uniformed paramilitaries began training at the La Carolina ranch, in Yarumal, in 1994, said Meneses.

Local police were paid to turn a blind eye to the activities of the death squad in the area, he added.

Alvaro Uribe became governor of Antioquia province around that time.

He went on to serve two terms as president (2002-2010) and is now a senator in opposition to President Juan Manuel Santos.

Meneses says he has no evidence connecting the former president to the paramilitary group.

Alvaro Uribe has been very vocal in his criticism of the peace negotiations with the Farc.

Supporters of the former president have accused the government of inflicting political persecution on the opposition.

“The infamous detention of the brother of former President Alvaro Uribe darkens the atmosphere, restricts civil liberties and leaves the opposition without guarantees,” said Senator Paloma Valencia.