Prosecution traces $5 billion and meetings in Venezuela in Miguel Uribe Turbay murder
New testimony points to alias 'John 40' as financier of senator's assassination. Prosecution analyses links with Segunda Marquetalia.
New testimony links alias 'John 40' to financing of Uribe Turbay assassination
According to pulzo.com, the investigation into the assassination of senator and presidential precandidacy hopeful Miguel Uribe Turbay has taken a significant turn with the emergence of new testimony before the General Prosecution Office. A person linked to Segunda Marquetalia, a FARC dissident group, pointed to Géner García Molina, alias 'John 40', as the alleged person in charge of raising $5 billion to finance the political assassination. The Prosecution is assessing the value and veracity of that testimony, provided by someone seeking judicial benefits and rewards in exchange for information about the organisation's leaders.
According to the account provided, the funds are said to have originated from drug trafficking and illegal mining operations located on the Colombian-Venezuelan border. Specifically, it is alleged that part of the money came from a mine in Barrancominas, Guainía, where gold and coltan are extracted. The source indicates that the financial operation was planned in detail to carry out the assassination of the legislator.
Earlier statements from other witnesses, according to versions gathered by the Prosecution, also mention Simeón Pérez Marroquín, alias 'el Viejo' or 'la Firma', who is said to have spoken of $1 billion intended for logistics and the network of hired killers, and another $600 million for bribes and manoeuvres aimed at diverting investigations. These amounts have not been fully confirmed in judicial proceedings.
Meetings in Colombia and Venezuela
The coordination of the criminal operation is said to have involved meetings at various points across Colombian territory and in Venezuela. According to the source, meetings were recorded in Villavicencio (Meta), Carurú (Vaupés) and in a camp in Venezuelan territory. Members of Segunda Marquetalia are said to have attended those meetings, including Iván Márquez, alias 'John 40', alias 'el Viejo' and José Manuel Sierra Sabogal, alias 'el Zarco Aldinever'. The purpose of the meetings is said to have been to coordinate movements, establish key contacts and manage the delivery of the money.
Alleged threat against César Gaviria
The testimony provided to the Prosecution also includes a parallel line of investigation: an alleged threat against former president César Gaviria Trujillo. According to that allegation, Kendry Téllez Álvarez, alias 'Yaco', is said to have established contacts with Segunda Marquetalia to coordinate a possible plan against him. This line currently lacks judicial confirmation.
The Prosecution continues to deepen its investigation into the identification of the intellectual authors of the crime, the origin of the funds and the possible participation of others involved in organising the assassination of Miguel Uribe Turbay.
Source: Google News CO — Crime