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Milestones in the Justice and Peace Process Against
Hebert Veloza García

 
2004

November 2004

Demobilization of the Turbo front

The Bananero bloc demobilizes collectively on November 25, 2004. In total, 447 paramilitaries demobilize, including Hebert Veloza García, commander of the Turbo front of the Bananero bloc.

2006

February 2006

Veloza García expresses his willingness to participate in the Justice and Peace process

On February 2, 2006, Veloza García declares before the High Commissioner for Peace that he is willing to submit to Law 975 of 2005 and agrees to comply with its requirements in order to benefit from the law.

August 2006

Veloza García leaves the demobilization process

In August 2006, after actively participating in the "Ralito Dialogues" between the government and paramilitary commanders, Veloza García goes into hiding. The Attorney General's Office accuses him of being one of the killers of Carlos Castaño, a former top commander of the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia.

August 2006

Veloza García is called to the Justice and Peace jurisdiction

On August 15, 2006, the Attorney General's Office calls on Veloza García to report to authorities to initiate a Justice and Peace criminal process. He fails to comply.

2007

April 2007

Veloza García is captured

On April 3, 2007, Veloza García is arrested by authorities on a farm in Antioquia and taken to prison in Itagui. The government announces he will be excluded from the list of beneficiaries of the Justice and Peace law for failing to report to authorities voluntarily.

July 2007

United States requests extradition of Veloza García

The Embassy of the United States in Colombia requests the provisional detention of Veloza García on July 9, 2007, in order to extradite him on drug-trafficking charges.

Octubre de 2007

Start of voluntary depositions in Colombia

From October 29, 2007, to February 27, 2009, a total of 47 voluntary deposition sessions are conducted. In these hearings, Veloza García confesses to 347 crimes as commander of the Turbo front and 488 crimes as commander of the Calima bloc.

2008

July 2008

The Court accepts the extradition request

On July 31, 2008, the Supreme Court of Justice issues a favorable ruling for the extradition of Veloza García to the United States, under certain conditions. In accordance with the observations court, the Colombian government postpones extradition for six months, while the former paramilitary continues to participate in voluntary depositions before the Attorney General's Office as part of the Justice and Peace process.

October 2008

First arraignment hearing

The Attorney General's Justice and Peace Chamber No. 17 conducts the first partial indictment hearing against Veloza García from October 27 to November 19, 2008, before the Due Process Control Magistrate of the Superior Tribunal of Medellin. He is indicted on 88 counts, and a warrant is issued for his arrest for the crimes of: aggravated conspiracy to commit a crime; manufacturing, trafficking, and possession of weapons firearms used exclusively by the armed forces; illegal use of uniforms and insignias; illegal recruitment; enforced disappearance; aggravated homicide; among others.

2009

March 2009

Veloza García is extradited

On March 5, 2009, the government of Colombia extradites Veloza García to the United States. He is imprisoned in the Metropolitan Correctional Center in New York.

2010

May 2010

Arraignment hearing

The Justice and Peace process against Veloza García continues on May 3, 2010, via video from the prison where Veloza García is being held in the United States. The indictment hearing is conducted from May 3 to August 24, 2010, before the Due Process Control Magistrate in Medellin.

2011

March 2011

Request for verification of legality of charges

The Justice and Peace Chamber No. 17 requests the verification of the legality of charges against Veloza García. The Due Process Control Magistrate of the Superior Tribunal of Medellin rules that due process requirements have been fulfilled.

August 2011

Due Process Control hearing for acceptance of charges

Beginning on August 11, 2011, the Attorney General's Office presents charges against Veloza García to the Trial Chamber of the Superior Tribunal of Bogota. During the hearing, the prosecutor presents an analysis of the context in Uraba at the time crimes occurred, as well as the origin and consolidation of the Turbo front under the command of Veloza García. Requirements for his eligibility to participate in the Justice and Peace process are also reviewed. The hearing ends when the Justice and Peace Trial Chamber of the Superior Tribunal of Bogota issues a ruling on the legality of the charges against Veloza García. The Tribunal announces that it has limited its decision to the crimes committed by Veloza García in the Uraba region and postpones the ruling on the legality of charges corresponding to the Calima bloc, in order to separately examine the creation, consolidation, form of operation, and patterns of criminal conduct of this bloc.

2012

August 2012

New voluntary depositions begin

One year after the hearing to verify the legality of indictment charges against Veloza García, a new voluntary deposition process is begun to obtain information about other crimes attributable to Veloza García. In mid-August 2012, the former paramilitary chief participates in new voluntary depositions via video conference from the prison where he is being held in the United States.

2013

March 2013

Reparations hearing

On March 11, 2013, the Justice and Peace Trial Chamber of the Superior Tribunal of Bogota begins the reparations hearing against Veloza García in Bogota by reading off the names of the victims recognized in the case. On March 13 and 14, the tribunal and its participants travel to the municipality of Apartado, Antioquia, to continue the hearing in the presence of approximately 200 victims, who had presented their claims to the magistrates and Veloza García. The former paramilitary commander responds to their questions via video conference from the United States. The Victims' Unit explains the administration reparations process. The hearing continues in Bogota from March 18 to April 26, 2013.

October 2013

Reading of the partial sentence

The Justice and Peace Chamber of the Superior Tribunal of Bogota sentenced Veloza García to 40 years in prison and ordered to pay a fee of approximately $5.2 million dollars after he was found guilty of the crimes of homicide, illegal recruitment of children, kidnapping, forced disappearance, and torture, among others. Because Veloza Garcia was prosecuted through Colombia's Justice and Peace process, the tribunal reduced his prison sentence to only 7 years.

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