On September 16, the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP) handed down the maximum sentence against eight former members of the former FARC Secretariat for thousands of kidnappings committed over more than two decades in Colombia. The decision marks a historic precedent in the transitional justice system established after the 2016 peace agreement.
The judges concluded that the former guerrilla leaders are responsible for the kidnapping policy carried out by the organization between 1990 and 2016. During that time, thousands of people were deprived of their liberty for the purposes of extortion, territorial control, and political pressure.
The sentence imposed includes an effective restriction of liberty of between five and eight years under special conditions, under a restorative regime that includes projects to compensate victims. This measure is in line with the framework established by the JEP, which prioritizes truth, reparation, and non-repetition.
Among those convicted are Rodrigo Londoño (Timochenko) and other former members of the Secretariat. All of them admitted their responsibility in preliminary hearings, which resulted in a reduced sentence compared to ordinary prison terms.
The ruling seeks to dignify the victims and consolidate the transitional justice process in Colombia. According to the JEP, this is the first major ruling in the kidnapping case, and it is expected to serve as a basis for future decisions in other major cases related to crimes committed during the armed conflict.
Sources cited:
Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP). Ruling on Case 01: Hostage-taking and other serious deprivations of liberty by the FARC-EP. https://www.jep.gov.co
Deutsche Welle (DW). Former FARC leaders receive maximum sentences for thousands of kidnappings in Colombia. https://www.dw.com/es/exjefes-de-las-farc-reciben-sentencia-maxima-por-miles-de-secuestros-en-colombia/a-74020979