Mariano Díaz, son of the late singer Diomedes Díaz, was sent to house arrest: these are the charges he accepted

Luis Mariano Díaz González, the son of the late Colombian vallenato singer Diomedes Díaz, has been placed under house arrest as part of a legal process involving allegations of involvement in a case of aggravated simple kidnapping and torture. The decision was made by a judge of guarantees in Barranquilla following the formal charges brought against him and five other individuals by the National Prosecution Service. These charges stem from alleged actions taken on August 23, 2025, when Carlos Alfredo Mejía Vargas, a collector for a company called Soluciones Mano a Mano, was reportedly detained and subjected to physical and psychological aggression. The legal proceedings involve six individuals who are accused of participating in a coordinated effort to deprive the victim of their freedom and keep them captive while subjecting them to physical and psychological abuse. During the indictment hearing, prosecutor Rodrigo Restrepo, representing the district judges, formally charged Keiner David Rocha Gamero, Darío Andrés Tirado Bossio, José David Martínez Ibáñez, Alexis Rafael Jiménez Urina, and Stiven Rafael Bolaño De La Hoz with the alleged crimes of aggravated simple kidnapping combined with torture. According to the prosecution, these individuals allegedly participated in a planned operation to detain the victim and maintain them in captivity while inflicting severe physical and psychological suffering and exerting pressure on both the victim and their family. The investigation suggests that this case is linked to informal loan activities known as "gota a gota," which typically involve high-interest loans and often lead to coercive practices. Authorities indicate that Carlos Alfredo Mejía Vargas was intercepted by armed men, forcibly transported to an abandoned house in Barranquilla, and subjected to mistreatment over several hours. The prosecution emphasized that the actions were carried out with intent, meaning the individuals voluntarily and in coordination executed the necessary acts to deprive the victim of their liberty, keep them in custody, inflict serious physical and psychological pain, and apply pressure on them and their family. According to the investigation, Luis Mariano Díaz is believed to have played a significant role in the kidnapping and subsequent transportation of the victim. Additionally, the inquiry indicates that the collector was accused by members of the organization of having appropriated 15 million pesos belonging to the structure dedicated to informal lending. During the presentation of the charges, the prosecution argued that all six defendants had full capacity to understand the illegality of their actions and make autonomous decisions based on that understanding, suggesting they acted knowingly and in coordination. The investigative body also stated that the awareness of the illegality is evident in the prior criminal agreement, the functional distribution of tasks, the coordinated movement to the victim's residence, the use of firearms to reduce the victim’s resistance, the secret transport to the detention location, the systematic execution of torture, threats directed at the victim and their immediate family, and economic demands made during the period of detention. In the midst of the legal proceedings, Luis Mariano Díaz reached a preliminary agreement with the prosecution and accepted the charges brought against him. However, the criminal process continues, and it will be up to the court to determine the final outcome. The case highlights the ongoing challenges related to informal lending practices in Colombia and the potential consequences for those involved in such activities. As the legal process unfolds, further details about the roles of each defendant and the specific circumstances surrounding the incident are likely to emerge.