Metropolitan News-Enterprise

 

Friday, November 18, 2016

 

Page 1

 

Judge Osorio Rescued by Colombian Police After Being Kidnapped, Held for Ransom

 

From Staff and Wire Service Reports

 

Authorities in Colombia say they have safely rescued Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Benny Osorio who had been kidnapped almost a week ago while on vacation in the South American nation.

Police say the judge’s captors had demanded a $33,000 ransom for his release. An elite anti-kidnapping unit using intelligence information rescued the judge yesterday in the popular tourist city of Cartagena. Four suspected kidnappers were arrested and several firearms seized.

Presiding Judge Carolyn B. Kuhl released a statement yesterday, saying the court was “relieved that a very frightening and threatening incident involving our colleague, Judge Benny Osorio ... is now successfully resolved.”

She said the court was thankful to the U.S. State Department and U.S. Ambassador Kevin Whitaker and his staff for working with the FBI and Colombian authorities in securing Osorio's release.

Osorio  is originally from Castaic, and was appointed to the Los Angeles Superior Court in 2008 to succeed then-retiring Judge Irving S. Feffer (since deceased) by then-Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Osorio won re-election unopposed in 2010.

 

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