Former Police Director Demands Investigation into Generals Salamanca and Zapata over Son's Death in Bogotá
William Rincón, former director of the National Police, demands that the Office of the Public Prosecutor investigate retired generals Salamanca and Zapata for the murder of his son in November 2024.
Former Director Rincón Accuses Retired Generals of Being Behind His Son's Homicide
William Rincón, former director of the National Police, formally requested the Office of the Public Prosecutor to investigate the possible involvement of retired generals William René Salamanca and Nicolás Zapata Restrepo in the murder of his son Juan Felipe Rincón Morales, which occurred on 24 November 2024 in the Quiroga neighbourhood, south Bogotá. This was reported by infobae.com, which gathered statements from the retired officer in an interview with the podcast Más Allá del Silencio.
Rincón maintained that the death of his 21-year-old son was not an isolated incident, but rather a "set-up" designed to damage his reputation, block his potential advancement to the position of General Director of the Police, and cover up alleged irregularities in health and logistics contracts at the institution.
Submission of Copies with 31 Points to the Office of the Public Prosecutor
The former director claimed to have submitted to the Office of the Public Prosecutor a submission of copies with 31 points in which, according to him, Salamanca and Zapata are connected to a structure that would have planned actions against him and his family.
"I am requesting that the possible involvement of General William René Salamanca, who was the director of the Police at that time, be investigated as quickly as possible, and I am requesting that General Nicolás Zapata Restrepo, who was also the vice-director at that time, be investigated," Rincón declared.
A Medical Examination That Raised Suspicions
One of the episodes recounted by Rincón occurred on 18 August 2024, three months before the crime. According to his account, Salamanca suggested he undergo a medical examination following a pastor's warning about a supposed heart condition.
Rincón asserted that he did not request the appointment, but rather it arrived directly at his office. The procedure was supposed to last approximately 20 minutes, but the former director remained at the Police Clinic until the afternoon. Upon waking, he said he had throat pain and found himself in a different room from the one where he had been admitted.
Upon later reviewing his medical records, Rincón found a record of a routine examination without complications and lasting only 20 minutes. "There is no record whatsoever," he asserted, questioning the absence of documentation regarding the additional hours under medical care. He also mentioned calls from then vice-director Zapata during that same day, who asked where he was and how he was feeling without giving him any instructions.
Polygraph Tests for His Work Colleagues After the Homicide
Days after the homicide of Juan Felipe, Rincón reported that members of his work environment were subjected to polygraph tests at the Police Intelligence Directorate. According to his account, the questions were aimed at linking him to acts of corruption and to an alleged romantic relationship with one of his advisers.
Rincón claimed that when he tried to meet with Zapata to complain about those procedures, the then vice-director would not see him for two days. Afterwards, he said, Zapata told him that the tests had been ordered by Salamanca.
"Look, Rincón, I want you to know that I did not order the polygraphs. They were ordered by General Salamanca," Rincón quoted as Zapata's words in a later meeting.
Salamanca, for his part, allegedly denied having given that instruction and claimed to be a friend of Rincón. The former director maintained that this dynamic was intended to build internal accusations against him to facilitate his removal from the institution.
The Day of the Crime: Helicopter, a Phone Call and a Phrase
Rincón recounted that on the day of the murder he was transported by helicopter to a ceremony at the Carabineros School in Facatativá, whilst his son was heading towards the Quiroga neighbourhood. There he received a call informing him that Juan Felipe was wounded. He asked to use Salamanca's helicopter to return to Bogotá, but maintained that the then director already knew that the young man had died before meeting with him.
According to Rincón, Salamanca greeted him with the phrase: "Today is a very special day for you, a day you will never forget."
"When he gives me those words that it is a better day, at any moment, it is the most normal thing and he is congratulating me. But knowing that they have just killed my son, that he knows my son is dead and does not tell me, that sarcasm says a great deal," the former director expressed.
Upon arriving at the Quiroga neighbourhood, Rincón claimed to have found Zapata at the crime scene. He accused him of having issued instructions that altered the initial direction of the investigation. "He is not a judicial police officer, he was not a prosecutor and he changed the course of the investigation," he said.
Contracts Questioned for Billions of Pesos
Rincón linked his complaints to health and logistics contracts for the Police which, he said, he detected when he assumed the position of General Director. He claimed to have found alleged irregularities in contracts awarded to companies related to Andrés Vanegas, whom he identified as a friend of William Salamanca, son of the then director of the Police.
These contracts would include medical services, diagnostic tests and supply of medicines. Rincón also noted that the company that had carried out the August 2024 medical examination would be related to the same businessman.
"These are contracts for thousands upon thousands of billions. There are contracts for 400 billion pesos. The health contracts are extremely high," he maintained.
He added that the Comptroller General of the Republic issued a report with observations concerning contracting processes at the Police.
Complaints Submitted to Multiple Entities
The former director claimed to have brought these complaints to the attention of the Office of the Public Prosecutor, the Office of the Public Defender, the Comptroller's Office, the Ministry of Defence, the Presidency, and United States agencies, among them the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
"I presume that it could be so. What other reason could there be today? I want that to be investigated. I want to confront them in court, to face each other," Rincón asserted.
Source: Google News CO — Crime