Remains of former girlfriend of paramilitary boss found in Colombia

Jan 7, 2008, 20:27 GMT

Bogota - Colombian authorities found in a grave in the northern town of Valencia the long-dead remains of Janneth Torres, sister of a leftist rebel and former girlfriend of the late paramilitary boss Carlos Castano, Colombian media reported Monday citing the Attorney General's Office.

The finding was made possible by data given to justice officials by Diego Fernando Murillo, alias 'Don Berna.' Murillo, a boss of the extreme-right paramilitaries, has disarmed and is currently being held in a high-security prison in Colombia.

Torres was kidnapped in April 1996 by a paramilitary commando in the south-western city of Cali, with a view to putting pressure on leftist rebels for them to cease attacking extreme-right groups.

The woman was released after eight months, but she returned to the paramilitary camp, pulled back by her relationship with paramilitary founder Castano.

In 1997, Castano allegedly had Torres killed, after accusing her of transferring information to leftist rebels.

Over 31,000 extreme-right paramilitaries deposed their weapons 2003-2006, in a process of negotiations with the government. Forty- nine leaders of the group are currently held in the country's prisons and - in the framework of the disarmament process - will not serve more than eight years in jail for all their crimes.