Judges keep drug-accused César Caicedo in private hospital, delaying prison transfer

César Caicedo, who has been charged with drug-related offenses, continues to be held in a private hospital, defying a Superior Court of Appeals order for his transfer to a penitentiary. The situation has become complex as two separate judges have authorized his continued confinement in a private medical facility, citing concerns related to his health.

Caicedo was initially hospitalized on May 20th for appendicitis. Subsequently, in late May, the Superior Court of Appeals, relying on reports from the Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences indicating his stable condition post-appendicitis treatment, ordered his transfer to jail. This decision revoked his house arrest and mandated provisional detention.

However, this order has been repeatedly suspended. Caicedo has moved between private hospitals for nearly two months. On July 7th, a Guarantee Judge ordered his transfer from Santo Tomás Hospital to a "private medical center of his choice." Despite the Public Ministry's appeal, another Guarantee Judge, Carolina Santamaría, reiterated the compliance with this decision on July 14th. Caicedo was reportedly returned to a private hospital in Brisas del Golf on July 15th. The Public Ministry remains uninformed about the specific medical diagnosis that warrants his continued stay in a hospital, raising questions about the legal proceedings and the justification for these judicial decisions.