Colombian judge seizes house of goalkeeper René Higuita linked to Escobar drug money
Colombian justice authorities have ordered the seizure of a property from former goalkeeper René Higuita after it was established that the property was purchased with funds from Pablo Escobar's criminal organisation.
Colombian judge seizes house of goalkeeper René Higuita linked to Escobar drug money
Colombian justice authorities have ordered the seizure of a property from former goalkeeper René Higuita after it was established that the property was purchased with funds from Pablo Escobar's criminal organisation. The information was disclosed by RTE.ie.
The veteran goalkeeper, renowned for his scorpion kick save against England in 1995, purchased the residence in an affluent neighbourhood of Medellín more than three decades ago. Prosecutors contend that the transaction involved fraudulent procedures and forged signatures to conceal the origin of the funds.
Following a twelve-year investigation, authorities established that the property was initially acquired by a front company of brothers William and Gerardo Moncada, who were members of the drug lord's criminal organisation. The property changed ownership on multiple occasions before being registered in the name of the athlete, shortly before Escobar died. Both Moncada brothers were executed in prison on the orders of the drug trafficker himself.
Higuita rejected all culpability. In an interview with Blu Radio of Bogotá, the former national team player described the matter as a coincidence and stated that he was the victim of the situation. He has already filed an appeal against the ruling, which means he retains possession of the property whilst the case is resolved.
Previously, the goalkeeper born in Medellín had already come to the attention of the justice system due to his links with drug trafficking. In 1993 he was arrested following a visit to Escobar in prison. He was also investigated for acting as an intermediary in the rescue of a minor kidnapped by the drug lord; he received an improper sum for his role as intermediary, although he was ultimately not prosecuted.
"From that moment on I was labelled as a friend of Pablo Escobar, and that has brought me countless complications," Higuita himself stated.
Source: RTÉ News