The President of the Republic, Abelardo de la Espriella, has kept open the option for a possible transfer of Juan Francisco ‘Kiko’ Gómez Cerchar, former governor of La Guajira. This possibility arises after a cell phone was found in his cell during an inspection.
Authorities indicated that the discovery occurred in La Dorada (Caldas), where officials from the National Penitentiary Institute of Colombia (Inpec) conducted the review of the area. This incident takes place in the context of threats against magistrates of the Supreme Court of Justice and members of the Attorney General’s Office. De la Espriella emphasized that an investigation into the use of the cell phone will be carried out and that necessary measures will be taken to safeguard the integrity of the judges. “No one is going to threaten the Court here. Anyone who rises against the Court is rising against the Government,” the president stated.
The discovery of the cell phone adds to other recent incidents related to Gómez Cerchar. On September 1, a projectile was found in the office of the first delegated prosecutor for Criminal Cassation, Pedro Luis Bonilla Bolaños, which led to the shattering of two windows in his office. Authorities are conducting ballistic tests to determine the origin of the projectile, and a link has been established with Gómez Cerchar due to his involvement in the trial that resulted in his conviction.
The threats and incidents have led the Supreme Court to issue alerts regarding the security of magistrates and their families. De la Espriella assured that instructions have been given to enhance security measures. “I must tell you that this Government will spare no effort to protect your lives and those of your families,” he indicated. Additionally, he stressed that in a democratic system, judges must act without fear of retaliation.
In this context, the presiding magistrate of the sentence against Gómez, José Joaquín Urbano, has warned about the risks faced by magistrates, highlighting the seriousness of the situation and the need for more effective protection.
Source: www.infobae.com
