E/CN.4/2000/9 page 60 to information provided by the Government, these cases are being heard by Military Criminal Court No. 24. 277. In its letter dated 30 January 1998, the Colombian Government indicated that with respect to other cases of torture allegedly carried out by army staff, the Armed Forces Command sent an official communication to the relevant units urging them to expedite the appropriate investigations. The Government indicated its willingness to inform the Special Rapporteur of the results. 278. In its letter dated 27 August 1999, the Government provided a response concerning one of the cases transmitted by the Special Rapporteur in his letter of 29 October 1999 (E/CN.4/1999/61, para. 166). Concerning Gilberto Sánchez Gutiérrez, the Government indicated that the Office of the Attorney-General of the Nation advised it that no investigation whatsoever into torture by members of GAULA (Grupo de Acción Unificada por la Libertad Personal) was being carried out. It stated that proceedings were in progress in the case of Gilberto Sánchez Gutiérrez and that in the course of the investigation, Mr. Sánchez Gutiérrez had been taken into custody, together with Hober Quiroz Ovalle, John Jairo Santana and Gustavo Navarro Portillo, who were being questioned in connection with the accusations of torture. 279. By letter dated 30 August 1999, the Government responded concerning the cases transmitted by the Special Rapporteur in his letter dated 29 May 1995 (E/CN.4/1996/35/Add.1, paras. 131 and 137). Concerning Juan de Jesús Quiroga and Josefina Chamorro Ríos, the Government indicated that the International Affairs Department of the Office of the Attorney-General of the Nation had informed it that the Office of the Coordinating Prosecutor for Civil and Criminal Circuit Courts in Arauca-Arauca had advised it that the cases were being heard by the main prosecutor's office in Saravena because Arauquita had jurisdiction. 280. In its letter dated 27 September 1999, the Government replied on the cases transmitted by the Special Rapporteur in May 1995 and October 1998. 281. Concerning the cases of José Antonio Jiménez, John Fredy Aguilar and Julio César Grisales (E/CN.4/1996/35/Add.1, para. 136), the Government stated that the National Police had informed it that there were no grounds whatsoever for an investigation, since the detention had been carried out according to legal procedure and there was no evidence of torture. The Government further indicated that the Office of the Attorney-General was carrying out no proceedings, inquiries or investigations involving the above-mentioned individuals. 282. With regard to the case of Rubén Darío López Bustamante (E/CN.4/1996/35/Add.1, para. 133), the Government indicated that the Office of the Attorney-General of the Nation had advised it that Mr. López Bustamante had indeed been detained by National Army personnel but was later released because he had been illegally taken into custody. The Attorney-General further indicated that Mr. López Bustamante had not been able to make a statement freely, for which reason there was no record of torture, which was why no investigation was being carried out of his alleged ill-treatment. 283. Concerning the cases of Jairo Massiol Cedaño, José Henry Hinestroza, Elisabeth Ascanio Bayona, Eduardo Horminso Guillén González and Juan González Huber (E/CN.4/1999/61, paras. 160, 162, 153 and 157, respectively), the Government indicated that the Office of the Attorney-General of the Nation had