The letter issued this Wednesday, August 2, by magistrate José Joaquín Urbano Martínez, stating that the cassation chamber of the Supreme Court – to which he belongs – is on alert due to a recent decision against the convicted former governor of La Guajira, Juan Francisco ‘Kiko’ Gómez, has already begun to generate reactions.
According to Urbano, both the magistrates and two delegated prosecutors in criminal matters -Gloria Guzmán and Pedro Luis Bonilla- who issued favorable opinions for Gómez to be convicted of aggravated homicide, feel deep concern for their personal safety.
‘The order of murders’
“On Wednesday, August 26, Judicial Prosecutor Gloria Guzmán Duque, who filed one of the cassation appeals against the acquittal issued by the Superior Court of Bogotá, came to my office to share with me the deep concern she had for her personal safety and that of the judicial officials involved in that process,” the magistrate said.
He added that on September 1, the First Prosecutor Delegate for Criminal Cassation, Pedro Luis Bonilla Bolaños, told him that last week, in his office located on the 26th floor of the Prosecutor’s Office headquarters, a bullet was found, which caused him great concern. He also informed him that this week, upon arriving at his office, he found two broken windows and evidence of two rifle shots.
And, according to the magistrate’s account, last week, on several virtual platforms, information circulated stating that “a powerful Guajira hitman – now imprisoned and with several final convictions – asked members of his family to resign from the public offices they hold and relocate to Italy, where he has nationality: “He explained that he has already ordered the imminent murders of three people and does not want his closest relatives to be within reach of Colombian justice when that happens.”
‘They have no evidentiary support’
In an interview with the Investigative Unit of EL TIEMPO, ‘Kiko’ Gómez’s defense assured that the magistrate’s allegations are unfounded.
“Mr. Juan Francisco Gómez is an elderly person, almost 70 years old, and has serious health problems. What evidence does the Court have to attribute to him the power being discussed? It is absurd,” said Gómez’s attorney.
He added: “Of course, the authorities must clarify everything being mentioned. But it is all speculation. It should be remembered that the sentence issued a few months ago is not the only one against Mr. Gómez and that the officials involved in this case are not the only ones who have requested a conviction.”
The attorney also assured that they will request that the unproven allegations against his client on social media be rectified: “They call him a narco-killer and Mr. Gómez has never been convicted of drug trafficking.”
INVESTIGATIVE UNIT
u.investigativa@eltiempo.com
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