Diaz's father's alleged kidnappers told to STOP LAUGHING during court

The alleged kidnappers of Luis Diaz's father were told to stop laughing by an angry state prosecutor when they appeared before a judge today.

The suspects were filmed sniggering as they protested their innocence during a hearing to decide whether they should be remanded in jail pending an ongoing criminal probe.

A state prosecutor who took offence at their attitude said: 'It seems like the detainees find this funny.

'They're laughing and I ask them to show more respect. This is a serious matter.'

It emerged today at the hearing in the Colombian city of Riohacha that prosecutors intend demonstrating that Luis Manuel Diaz's October 28 kidnap was motivated by the men's desire to make money.

They have accused the four suspects, who include a man they say infiltrated Mr Diaz's inner circle by posing as a footballer trainer to get a job at the soccer school he runs, of crimes including aggravated kidnap for the purpose of extortion.

The state prosecutor who attended today's hearing said he was seeking preventative custody for the men, named as Marlon Rafael Brito Bolivar, alias Marlon; Brayan Javier Morales Sanjuan, alias Brayan or Negro; Andrys Alcides Bolivar Bolivar, alias Andrys: and Yerdinson Bolivar Bolivar alias 'Arenca' or 'Areca.'

He described them as a 'danger to society' and said they posed a flight risk and shouldn't be given bail.

Colombian authorities have identified them as members of a gang called Los Primos which in English translates as The Cousins.

They have accused them of carrying out the kidnap and handing Mr Diaz over to a regional unit of the ELN left-wing insurgent group called the Northern War Front.

The Los Primos gang is said to specialise in drug trafficking and has reportedly been identified as a