Colombian Priest Jailed As Gang Leader

The Telegraph
August 2, 2013

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/breaking-news/colombian-priest-jailed-as-gang-leader/story-fni0xqlk-1226690551942

A ROMAN Catholic priest has reportedly been sentenced to 19 years' jail for heading a criminal gang in Colombia.

According to the Medellin daily El Colombiano, a court has revoked an earlier decision to absolve Oscar Ortiz, parish priest in the hamlet of San Antonio de Pradothe.

The High Court in Medellin ruled on Thursday that he was the mastermind in a gang known as the Demobilised Fighters of El Limonar.

Most members of the gang, which engaged for 10 years in kidnappings, drug trafficking and extortion, are former right-wing paramilitaries.

Ortiz was arrested in 2010 and tried but a court absolved him in 2012 and he returned to his parish amid great joy from parishioners.

Eleven further gang members were sentenced to several years in jail.