Colombia JEP sentences retired Colonel Figueroa for extrajudicial killings

The Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP) in Colombia has sentenced retired Colonel Juan Carlos Figueroa Suárez to six years and three months in prison. The sentence follows his admission of responsibility for the extrajudicial killings of 38 people in Valledupar between 2004 and 2005.

While serving as commander of the No. 2 Artillery Battalion ‘La Popa’, Figueroa oversaw criminal acts where civilians—including members of the Wiwa and Kankuamo indigenous communities—were murdered and falsely presented as combat casualties. The investigation revealed that the crimes included homicide, forced disappearance, and torture. The JEP noted that military personnel faced systemic pressures and incentives, such as financial rewards and promotions, to report combat successes.

As part of his sentence, Figueroa must fulfill eleven restorative obligations. These include dignifying the victims' reputations, providing information to assist in finding the disappeared, and participating in truth-seeking processes. He is also required to hand over operational diaries and documents related to the events to help clarify the truth of these crimes.