French Foreign Legion corporal escapes FARC captivity in Colombia

French Foreign Legion FARC dissidents Nariño kidnapping José Olger Melo Charry Colombia security

José Olger Melo Charry, a Colombian corporal serving in the French Foreign Legion, has escaped from captivity after being held for nearly a month by FARC dissidents in southwest Colombia.

Kidnapped on August 6 in the Nariño department while on leave to visit family, Melo Charry was targeted after his affiliation with the French Foreign Legion became known. The abduction was claimed by the EMC, a major dissident group of the former FARC.

After escaping his captors, the 35-year-old soldier spent four days navigating the difficult terrain of the Western Cordillera alone. He successfully reached a police sub-station in El Ejido, Policarpa, on the night of Saturday, September 5.

Following his arrival, he was airlifted to Pasto, the capital of Nariño, where he is currently under medical observation and accompanied by his family. Authorities, including the military's GAULA unit and the technical investigation corps, are investigating the circumstances of his kidnapping and escape. No ransom demands had been reported by his family during his detention.

Entities

Colombia · EMC · Estado Mayor Central · FARC · FARC dissidents · French Foreign Legion · José Olger Melo Charry · Nariño

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[DISPUTED] The corporal was kidnapped on August 6 in the Nariño department of southwest Colombia. policeetrealites.com · actu17.fr · www.bienpublic.com · entrevue.fr · www.ertnews.gr · +5 more
[● 9 SOURCES] José Olger Melo Charry, a corporal in the French Foreign Legion, escaped from his captors. policeetrealites.com · actu17.fr · www.bienpublic.com · entrevue.fr · www.hsbnoticias.com · +4 more
[● 10 SOURCES] The kidnapping was carried out by dissidents of the FARC, specifically the EMC group. policeetrealites.com · actu17.fr · www.bienpublic.com · entrevue.fr · www.ertnews.gr · +5 more
[● 2 SOURCES] No ransom demand had been received by the soldier's family. www.bienpublic.com · www.ertnews.gr
[● 10 SOURCES] The corporal spent four days alone in the wild after escaping. policeetrealites.com · actu17.fr · www.bienpublic.com · entrevue.fr · www.ertnews.gr · +5 more
[● 10 SOURCES] The corporal was airlifted from El Ejido to Pasto on Sunday morning. policeetrealites.com · actu17.fr · www.bienpublic.com · entrevue.fr · www.ertnews.gr · +5 more
[DISPUTED] The soldier reached a police sub-station in El Ejido around 23:30 on Saturday, September 5. actu17.fr · entrevue.fr · www.valeursactuelles.com · www.lejdd.fr
[● 10 SOURCES] The soldier is currently under medical observation in Pasto. policeetrealites.com · actu17.fr · www.bienpublic.com · entrevue.fr · www.ertnews.gr · +5 more