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Colombia Absolves Kidnapping Victim Accused of Misdeeds Colombia Absolves Kidnapping Victim Accused of Misdeeds
(about 1 hour later)
CARACAS, Venezuela — Bringing to a close a case that stunned Colombia and focused attention on a brutal episode in the country’s long-running guerrilla war, Colombian authorities this week absolved a former state legislator suspected of helping to arrange his own kidnapping by rebels. CARACAS, Venezuela — Bringing to a close a case that stunned Colombia and focused attention on a brutal episode in the country’s long-running guerrilla war, Colombian authorities this week absolved a former state legislator just months after accusing him of helping to arrange his own kidnapping by rebels.
The general prosecutor, Eduardo Montealegre, said Thursday said that an investigation showed that the former legislator, Sigifredo López, was innocent of the charges. And he said that officials, including the head of the national investigative police unit that first formed the case against him, would offer a public apology to Mr. López in the city of Cali, where the kidnapping occurred.The general prosecutor, Eduardo Montealegre, said Thursday said that an investigation showed that the former legislator, Sigifredo López, was innocent of the charges. And he said that officials, including the head of the national investigative police unit that first formed the case against him, would offer a public apology to Mr. López in the city of Cali, where the kidnapping occurred.
In a country where thousands of people have been kidnapped during decades of brutal war with rebel groups, his case stood out, long before his arrest in May.In a country where thousands of people have been kidnapped during decades of brutal war with rebel groups, his case stood out, long before his arrest in May.
Mr. López was among a group of 12 provincial lawmakers who were kidnapped in Cali by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, also known as FARC, in 2002.Mr. López was among a group of 12 provincial lawmakers who were kidnapped in Cali by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, also known as FARC, in 2002.
In 2007 the FARC killed 11 of the kidnapped men when the group of guerrillas holding them thought they were coming under attack by Colombian Army troops seeking to free the captives; it later turned out that the group had mistakenly clashed with another FARC unit.In 2007 the FARC killed 11 of the kidnapped men when the group of guerrillas holding them thought they were coming under attack by Colombian Army troops seeking to free the captives; it later turned out that the group had mistakenly clashed with another FARC unit.
Mr. López was freed by the FARC in 2009. He said he survived the massacre because at the time he was being held separately from the other captives as punishment for arguing with the guerrillas.Mr. López was freed by the FARC in 2009. He said he survived the massacre because at the time he was being held separately from the other captives as punishment for arguing with the guerrillas.
His release, which was shown on television, transfixed Colombia. The enduring image was of the expression of anguished emotion on Mr. López’s face as he was fiercely held in a bear hug by his two sons.His release, which was shown on television, transfixed Colombia. The enduring image was of the expression of anguished emotion on Mr. López’s face as he was fiercely held in a bear hug by his two sons.
The case against Mr. López was based on a video found on a computer used by the FARC’s top commander, Alfonso Cano, who was killed late last year. The video showed a man discussing plans for the 2002 kidnapping. The man’s face was only dimly visible, but investigators said that studies of the images and the voice of the man seen in the video led them to conclude it was Mr. López.The case against Mr. López was based on a video found on a computer used by the FARC’s top commander, Alfonso Cano, who was killed late last year. The video showed a man discussing plans for the 2002 kidnapping. The man’s face was only dimly visible, but investigators said that studies of the images and the voice of the man seen in the video led them to conclude it was Mr. López.
Investigators also relied on information provided by former guerrilla fighters, who implicated Mr. López.Investigators also relied on information provided by former guerrilla fighters, who implicated Mr. López.
But soon after, prosecutors began to back off those conclusions; they released Mr. López from custody in August.But soon after, prosecutors began to back off those conclusions; they released Mr. López from custody in August.
The prosecutor’s office this week released a summary of its investigation in which it said that further study of the video, including a review by the F.B.I., led them to reverse their conclusion.The prosecutor’s office this week released a summary of its investigation in which it said that further study of the video, including a review by the F.B.I., led them to reverse their conclusion.
The summary also said cited “grave inconsistencies” in the testimony of former guerrillas who had accused Mr. López. And it said that jailed guerrillas who took part in the kidnapping denied that Mr. López was involved.The summary also said cited “grave inconsistencies” in the testimony of former guerrillas who had accused Mr. López. And it said that jailed guerrillas who took part in the kidnapping denied that Mr. López was involved.
In an interview on Friday Mr. López said the ordeal had been “supremely difficult.” In an interview on Friday, Mr. López said the ordeal had been “supremely difficult.”
“When you damage a person’s honor or his dignity it is like when you pluck the feathers from a chicken,” Mr. López said. “It’s hard to put them back again.” “When you damage a person’s honor or his dignity, it is like when you pluck the feathers from a chicken,” Mr. López said. “It’s hard to put them back again.”
The Colombian government will begin peace talks with the FARC next month in an effort to end the war that has dragged on for nearly five decades.The Colombian government will begin peace talks with the FARC next month in an effort to end the war that has dragged on for nearly five decades.

Jenny Carolina González contributed reporting from Bogotá, Colombia.

Jenny Carolina González contributed reporting from Bogotá, Colombia.