Houston Chronicle

Colombian paramilitary member sentenced

Jun 03 -- An apologetic member of a Colombian right-wing paramilitary group was sentenced to 7 1/2 years in prison Tuesday for trying to acquire anti-aircraft missiles, grenade launchers and other powerful weapons for $25 million worth of cocaine.

GoogleSiga las noticias de SEMANA en Google Discover y manténgase informado

Juan A Lozano
2 de junio de 2009, 7:00 p. m.

Diego Alberto Ruiz Arroyave pleaded guilty in October to conspiring to provide material support and resources to the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia, known by its Spanish initials, AUC. The group has been designated a foreign terrorist organization by the U.S. government.

"In my prayers, I thank God ... for the courage he has given me to make reparations for the damage I have done in my life," Ruiz read in Spanish from a statement. His wife, who had come from Colombia, sat in the courtroom.
 
Read more here.
 
Semana International delivers news about Colombia in English. Find more in our home.