Drug case man freed because he fears jails

The Telegraph (UK) ^ | 12/31/2001 | Tim Brown

[dighton]

SPAIN'S biggest alleged cocaine smuggler, who is accused of masterminding the shipment of 10 tons of the drug to western Europe, was on the run yesterday after being granted bail because of his fear of prisons.

Judges at Spain's National Criminal Court in Madrid allowed Carlos Ruiz de Santamaria, a Colombian known as Carlos the Black, to leave his cell at the Valdemora top security prison just outside the capital.

The decision came three weeks before he was due to stand trial on charges for which prosecutors have demanded a 60-year sentence.

The judges were forced to reverse their decision at the weekend and issued an international arrest warrant for de Santamaria after police reported that they could not find him.

The three judges had granted bail after being shown a report by a prison psychiatrist saying that the 47-year-old Colombian suffered from a paranoia of being in jail that produced suicidal tendencies.

Although the report only recommended that he should be allowed out of prison to attend special treatment, the judges agreed to an application by his lawyer that he should be released on £30,000 bail.

The seized drugs shipment was said to have a street value of £260 million.

© Copyright of Telegraph Group Limited 2001.

[isom35]

you mean we're not the only country with stupid judges? :)

[End Times Sentinel]

I hate when this type of stuff happens. Doesn’t Carlos the Black realize that he just ruins it for the other prisoners???

[LoneRangerMassachusetts]

Let's start taking note of Spain's justice system. They let the vilest drug dealer go free. They throw a tantrum with Britain so they can try a former South American leader. Do their judges really inspire a sense of justice in the Spanish?

[ambrose]

Sounds like the Massachusetts "justice" system...

[ambrose]

Drug case man freed because he fears jails

It is hard to tell the difference between a real news story and an Onion parody these days...

[Bogey78O]

It ticks me off when people tell us to be more like Europe. Thanks for the ping.

[dennisw]

Follow the money. People were paid off ......Judges paid off BIG TIME. This scum had money up the wazoo to spread around.

Is Spain also a 3rd world nation now?

[glock rocks]

the 47-year-old Colombian suffered from a paranoia of being in jail

oh, the poor dear... so, tie him to a stump and shoot him.

[Tall_Texan]

I had the same reaction. Can we pass a law demanding that all judges possess at least a 110 IQ before serving on the bench?

[glock rocks]

Is Spain also a 3rd world nation now?

...and franco's still dead.

[LarryLied]

Guy in Florida just had his sentence knocked down from 60 to 6 years because he suffers from "tortured soul syndrome" among other things.

[dennisw]

At least half of all judges are just hacks who got appointed due to political connections. And stupid hacks at that.

[MeekOneGOP]

Although the report only recommended that he should be allowed out of prison to attend special treatment, the judges agreed to an application by his lawyer that he should be released on £30,000 bail.

The seized drugs shipment was said to have a street value of £260 million.

---

Asinine judges and revolving doors in Spain. . .

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

The three judges had granted bail after being shown a report sack of money bigger than a roasted pig by a prison psychiatrist saying that the 47-year-old Colombian suffered from a paranoia of being in jail that produced suicidal tendencies who was also on the dealer's payroll.

[MinuteGal]

The brains in Spain stay mainly in the drain.

Leni

[Demidog]

These Judges are not stupid. They were bribed.

[PoorMuttly]

To quote the Bard:

Grrrrrrr...

[Amore]

It is hard to tell the difference between a real news story and an Onion parody these days...

OMG, you mean this IS true? From your ping I thought it was the latter, now I find out it's the former. Sheesh!

[Norb2569]

Ahh... the Spanish are more like the faggy Frenchies everyday! Hard to beleive my Caucasian/European heritage has become this crap!