(CNN Español) – A U.S. federal judge has ordered more than a dozen former members of the FARC guerrillas (FARC) guerrillas to pay $ 36 million to the son of former Colombian presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt. According to court documents obtained by CNN on Thursday, in the early 2000s.

On Jan. 4, Pennsylvania Interim District Chief Justice Matthew W. Fran said he had ruled against the defendants for failing to appear in court.

In total there are 14 defendants: according to court documents, the FARC is a panel and 13 former members. Among them stands Luciano Marin, nicknamed “Ivan Marquez”, who is now in hiding because he was one of the guerrilla leaders of the mobilized resistance.

CNN is working to find out the whereabouts of the others named in the case, although at least two of them, Henry Castellanos Carson, “Romana” and Heli Megia Mendoza, or “Martin Sombra” may have died. Conflicts, according to Colombian officials.

The lawsuit, filed by Lawrence Dello in 2018, was filed by Scarinci Hollenbeck, a law firm representing the FARC and defendants, accused of causing “significant distress” when his mother was abducted.

“Lawrence Delloy’s time with his mother could not be compensated with as much money or the trauma at the hands of the FARC could not be cured. We are proud to have helped establish some justice,” Robert E. Levy said in a statement. Of the company.

According to prosecutors, Delloye, who was 13 years old when Betancourt was abducted, will receive US $ 12 million and the rest will be used for legal representation costs.

Abduction of Ingrid Botancourt

Ingrid Bettencourt was abducted by the FARC in February 2002 while running for president of Colombia. He was released in July 2008 during what became known as “Operation Czech” by the military, including three Americans and a dozen soldiers and police officers.

As of this Thursday, Betancourt has not spoken publicly about the verdict. CNN contacted its news correspondent on Thursday and said they would release a position soon, although they did not specify when.

In June 2021, former members of the FARC acknowledged their responsibility for the abduction victims and apologized to all those affected by these loss of freedom. On that occasion, Bettencourt thanked him for admitting his guilt, however, pointing out that compensation for the victims was still an issue to be resolved.

– Fernando Ramos of CNN en Español in Bogot contributed to this report.