Juan Carlos Abadía transferred to Villahermosa prison

Juan Carlos Abadía, the former governor of Valle del Cauca, has been transferred to the Villahermosa prison in Cali. The move was ordered by President Abelardo De La Espriella as part of a government review regarding inmates serving sentences in police or military facilities rather than standard penitentiaries.

Abadía is serving a sentence of 21 years and 7 months for corruption-related crimes, specifically regarding irregularities in a 2010 contract for school library materials. Before his transfer, he was being held at the Police National Carabineros School. President De La Espriella alleged that while held there, Abadía continued to exert political influence and manage official matters.

The transfer followed a medical episode where Abadía was taken to a mental health unit and a clinic after learning of the relocation. The President characterized the health episode as a potential strategy to avoid the transfer. The relocation is part of a broader administration policy to ensure high-profile inmates are held in standard correctional facilities under strict conditions.