Two more people will be linked to the Balda case

Ecuadornews:

The ex-assemblyman was kidnapped in Colombia in 2012. In this case there are three defendants who on Wednesday, May 30, had to give their version, but the procedure was postponed.

For 10:30 of this Thursday, May 31, in the National Court of Justice, the hearing is convened in which the State’s Attorney General, Paúl Pérez Reina, will request the connection of the former Director of the Secretariat National Intelligence (Senain), Pablo Romero, and the former commander of the Police, Gen. Fausto Tamayo, to the Balda case.

The diligence will be fulfilled once the criminal proceeding in which the alleged crimes of illicit association and kidnapping of the political activist Fernando Balda, which occurred on August 13, 2012 in Bogotá, is investigated, came to the attention of the National Court of Justice, It protects you from the extolling of the Senain.

Romero’s defense attorney, Cristian Jaramillo, confirmed to the press that they received notification for the hearing this day. Within this judicial process, since last March 20 police agents Luis Ch., Diana F. and Jorge E. have been detained, to whom the Prosecutor’s Office accused of having participated in the plagiarism of Balda. Luis Ch. Is the only agent that has embraced effective cooperation and is delivering information.

Testimonies were not received On Wednesday, May 30 at 10:30, Luis Ch., And Diana F., two of the three policemen prosecuted had to give their advance testimony at the National Court of Justice but the diligence was suspended because at 08: 10, the Attorney General, Paúl Pérez Reina, requested through a written deferral.

As detailed in the document, it was not possible to coordinate with the System for the Protection and Assistance of Victims, Witnesses and other Participants in the criminal process so that they provide personal security measures to detainees. It adds that the suspension of the diligence has, in addition, the purpose that the persons who are notified for their connection, that is to say the former director of the Senain, Pablo Romero, and the former commander of the Police, Fausto Tamayo, exercise their right to the defense and they can cross-examine the defendants.

For Fernando Balda’s defense lawyer, Felipe Rodríguez, the decision of the Attorney General is correct, because the proper order of the proceedings is to first link and then receive the testimonies, thereby avoiding nullities.

Anticipated that as a defense of Balda, will request that the taking of testimony to the two defendants be in this same week or maximum during the first of June. Private prosecutor Rodriguez said he was sure that the request presented by his defendant on Tuesday, May 29, to act in the process as private prosecutor, will be accepted, as it meets the requirements.

On Wednesday, May 30, Balda recognized the signature of the order. Within the investigations into the alleged kidnapping of political activist Fernando Balda, the five-day period given by the State Attorney General in charge for the National Electoral Council to deliver the certified copies of Rafael’s appointment credentials Correa as president of the Republic.

The same time, which runs since Tuesday, gives the Secretariat of the Presidency of the Republic to send the Decree with which José Serrano Minister of the Interior was appointed.

Key dates

The kidnapping was in Bogotá According to the version handled by the Office of the Prosecutor, on the night of August 12, 2012, in Bogotá (Colombia), Fernando Balda was intercepted and kidnapped by five people, including a woman, who forced to embark on a car.

On January 23 of this year the Prosecutor’s Office decided to activate the investigation, after about six years of the complaint. At the moment there are 3 detainees Diana F., Jorge E. and Luis Ch. are the three police officers arrested on March 19, 2017 for being the alleged perpetrators of the kidnapping. (I)

Source: https://www.eltelegrafo.com.ec/noticias/judicial/12/fernando-balda-secuestro-nuevos-vinculados