Prominent figure surrenders to authorities in Sincelejo over homicide and kidnapping probe

Víctor Guerra De La Espriella, a member of a prominent political and economic family in the region, has voluntarily surrendered to authorities in Sincelejo. He is reportedly linked to an investigation into aggravated homicide and kidnapping.

The charges are believed to stem from the 1997 murder of Guillermo Montero Carpio, a leader of the National Association of Peasant Users (ANUC) in Sucre. Montero Carpio was assassinated in a parking lot near the ANUC office in Sincelejo, while his escorts were held captive during the incident.

Guerra De La Espriella, a well-known rancher and co-founder of a private security cooperative, had an active arrest warrant. His surrender to the Prosecutor's Office was reportedly carried out with significant discretion. He has been transferred to the 'La Vega' prison in Sincelejo to await legal proceedings.

This is not Guerra De La Espriella's first encounter with the justice system. In 2006, he was implicated in the "Pacto de Ralito," a paramilitary pact. He surrendered to authorities in Bogotá in 2007 and was later convicted, receiving a sentence of six years and three months. He was released in 2009 after serving a portion of his sentence and benefiting from earned credits for studies and work.

During his previous legal process, Guerra De La Espriella maintained that he signed a blank sheet of paper presented to him at the "Ralito summit." Despite his claims, the Prosecutor's Office proceeded with the charges, leading to his imprisonment. Seventeen years have passed since that conviction and 29 years since the murder of the peasant leader.