You be the judge.............?

Question

This is a true story!
As everyone knows, Colombia has a terrible problem with narco-terrorism. Well, a group of soldiers were patrolling, and stumbled across a huge amount of money hidden in the jungle.
One soldier left the group to answer the call of nature, and found himself squatting on a fortune! About $US 46,000,000. They split the money among themselves, and spent most of it in record time! Wine, women and song! As would happen, the Colombian authorities discovered this and now these soldiers are facing trial.
You are the judge in the trial, what would you do? You have to take into account the terrible pressure and conditions that these soldiers were under: constant enemy fire, landmines, torrential rain, snakes and creepy crawlies everywhere. As something 0f this magnitude hasn't happened before, Colombian law isn't very clear what the soldiers should have done under these circumstances.
Your decision's final, and cannot be overturned.
Now judge, sentence them

Wasabandmom: The current Colombian government is really trying hard to fight corruption, but to root out something that has been around for decades is extremely difficult. The Government found out when ordinary soldiers started dressing like Liberace, and driving expensive German cars.
My opinion: This is very difficult! My heart says: Let them go! But, my head says: Off to prison with you! And being a judge, my head must take precedence. Six months to one year, depending on the amount of money you have spent.

Nick R: My question wasn't about your idiotic personal views! You didn't answer my question. I suggest you ask the Americans what happened to the cocaine, after all they were guarding it 'heavily'!

Answer 1

Guilty
And only because I've considered the fact they did not spend money in useful things that they needed.
They went partying!
And the money was from dubious nature, too.
They're law enforcers!
What kind of example is that??
Guilty!

Answer 2

The CIA has been involved with the Colombians for years.

I believe it was 1998, the U.S. had a heavily guarded warehouse that was holding 60 tons of cocaine. Over one weekend, it all disappeared, and NO ONE knew when or how it was removed without being seen on camera or heard by the 50 troops guarding the compound.
Just because you read the crap they tell you about, does not make it true.
You will NEVER know what is going on, nor could you begin to comprehend the insidious actions that take place in Columbia.

Learn about government spooks and black bag operations before you believe everything the government wants you to read.

Answer 3

I would like to know your opinion! I also would like to know how the government found out!

Colombia has a very corrupt government. I would be most surprised if these men had a fair trial. Nonetheless, as Judge Chiquita Banana, I would say that the men are free to go. They did not steal anything, did not harm anyone, and they were only acting with a little natural greed -- "finder's keepers, loser's weepers?" I realize I would not be acting like a hard core Colombian judge, so I would probably just order them to return the money (to whom?) I mean, was this drug cartel? Who else would have that kind of money? So, give the rest to me!!! I'll see that it goes to the poor... give it to a church down there. Definitely, I would let the men go. Maybe fine them? Next time, the one guy would keep it to himself! There needs to be a consequence of sorts, but not sharp. Need to keep the honest people honest... Good luck.

Answer 4

Let them go.
I don't know much about Colombia I have to admit.
The government and the judge could be as corrupt as the soldiers themselves. I am ignorant about this point.

At the moment I rereading "4,000" days : a story of a young Astralian imprisonned in a jail in Thailand.....that took place back in the late 70s. For drug trafficking.
He endured terrible conditions which drove too many people crazy or to their deaths. The irony is that the guards themselves were selling all kind of drugs to the prisonners and using themselves. The governor knew this. The government knew this (that is second hand..not personal experience...and can't confirm it myself).
What that young fellow says in his book that due to international pressure, Thailand is notorious for executing drug trafficants but turns a blind eye to people living in remote village for whom heroin is viewed as a part of life like cigarettes or alcohol in the West.
That was then; according to the author. I cannot say for the present.

Actually, thinking about it I did meet last year a guy from Colombia or maybe another South American country (forgot which) who told me that he used to be a soldier back in his country and recountering strange tales in the jungle..His English was not too good. Wish I could remember more but it did not sound like a party at all...tribes fighting among themselves, animals.......

I'm proposing myself as a "fictional judge" by the way since I don't know enough....:-)

Answer 5

Dishonorable discharge. That is it. They spent drug money, putting back into the economy. It is not stolen money,. It is found money. Finders keepers. The fact they were on duty at the time makes them lousy soldiers so kick them out of the military and most likely they will be dead in a week. But, it wasn't you that killed them. It was their greed.

Answer 6

The money should have been turned over to their government. The soldiers like the money both belong to the government and it wasn't their money to spend. Hope they enjoyed the money while they could. They won't need it where they are going.

Answer 7

I'd have to return the prosecution's indictment "For want of Jurisdiction." You haven't cited Columbia's law regarding their military code.

Answer 8

Acquitted!

Answer 9

If no one was hurt, let them be. If there is no money.then did they find any to begin with? Hear say (rumors), doesn't prove anything.

Answer 10

1 yr hard labor and DD from military, no parole or probation.