The Colombian chief federal prosecutor's office said Friday that it would seek information from the U.S. side on the involvement of an American banana giant in financing a right-wing military group.

Chiquita, one of the world's largest banana producers, agreed Wednesday to pay a 25-million-dollar fine in a plea agreement for making payments to the Self Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC) as part of the settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice.

From 1997 to 2004, Chiquita paid the AUC a monthly stipend to protect its properties from left-wingers. But Chiquita said that the payments made by the company were always motivated by concern in good faith for the safety of their employees.

Some opposition lawmakers have called to extradite Chiquita executives who were connected to the case.

Juan Pablo Corlazzoll, Colombia's United Nations High Commission for Refugees representative, on Thursday called for a 25-million-dollar fine against the company to be paid into the fund for the victims of the AUC.

Source: Xinhua