The director of La Modelo prison in Bogota was murdered by assassins.
According to local media, the officer had received threats against him and his family from a criminal known by the alias ‘Pedro Pluma’ for his actions in restoring order in the courtyard of La Modelo.
Director of La Modelo prison in Bogotá, retired colonel of police elmer fernandez This Thursday he was killed by assailants who opened fire as he was traveling in an official vehicle on an avenue in the north of the Colombian capital.
The Justice Minister said, “I regret to be the bearer of terrible news: the director of La Modelo prison in Bogotá, retired Colonel Elmer Fernández, has just been murdered.” Nestor Osuna, In social networks.
The head of the Justice Ministry said the murder occurred while Fernández was in a vehicle at the National Penitentiary and Prison Institute (Inpec) on Carrera 30, at the height of Calle 80.
“The killers are not going to scare us and we will move forward despite their insults and insults,” Osuna said. He said all security measures for Inpec personnel would be strengthened.
President of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, he said in his
Petro wrote, “Today he was brutally murdered. A lockdown plan has been established in Bogotá and an extraordinary security council will be convened to establish measures for all prisons in the country. A hug with his entire family and Solidarity.”
danger from criminals
According to the President of the Union of Penitentiary Workers (UTP), oscar robaio, Director Fernandez was threatened some time ago and these incidents were reported to the authorities.
Authorities have not identified the possible perpetrators of the murder, but according to local media, the officer had received threats against him and his family from a criminal known by that name. ‘Pedro Pluma’ For his actions in bringing order to the courtyard of La Modelo in the southern part of the city.
Meanwhile, the mayor of Bogotá, Carlos Fernando Galan, He assured: “We are working with the authorities to find those responsible as soon as possible. I call on all authorities to work together to protect life and guarantee the safety of all people threatened by criminal groups. I call.”
Last February, the Colombian government announced prison emergency Combating harassment of prison guards by criminal gangs and combating extortion from the country’s detention centres, all of which are overcrowded.
The measure came after a wave of violence against Impec officials and which cost the life of one of them Jesus Cardenas, Shot by two assailants while eating breakfast near San Sebastián de Ternera prison in Cartagena.
On that occasion, Minister Osuna explained that funds would be available to purchase cell phone signal blocking equipment in prisons, which prisoners use to plan extortion and other criminal actions.
INPEC manages 125 prison establishments across the country with a capacity of 81,740 prisoners, but currently 101,976 people are deprived of their liberty.
This means that the country’s jails have 20,236 prisoners more than their capacity, which is equal to Overcrowding by 24.7%, Classified as High by Inpec.
(tagstotranslate)International