Ex-paramilitaries held over illegal land grabs

[Judi Lynn]

Ex-paramilitaries held over illegal land grabs
Friday, 25 November 2011 12:31
Aylish O'Driscoll

Ex-paramilitaries under "Jorge 40" are being held in custody over illegal land grabs a decade ago, Colombian newspaper El Espectador reported on Friday.

The two members of the now defunct paramilitary organization AUC, headed by extradited leader Rodrigo Tovar Pupo, alias "Jorge 40" - are being held by the anti-terrorism unit of the Prosecutor General's Office for illegally seizing and forcibly displacing families from 36 plots of land between 1997 and 2000.

The land was acquired by the AUC's Northern Bloc, in the Caribbean coastal region of Magdalena department, through falsified deeds after rural families were forced to flee under threat of violence.

The land was originally put in the name of Jorge 40, who then transferred ownership to relatives and members of the Northern Block.

More:
http://colombiareports.com/colombia-news/news/20691-ex-paramilitaries-held-over-illegal-land-grabs.html