Colombia's former spy chief convicted of spying
Columbia’s ex-chief of national security agency has been convicted by the nation’s Supreme Court for illegal wiretapping on politicians, journalists, and judges during the administration of former President Alvaro Uribe.
The court on Friday found Maria del Pilar Hurtado, the former director of Colombia’s now-dissolved Administrative Department of Security (DAS), guilty of abusing authority and public office, conspiracy to violate the law, and illicit surveillance of communications, adding that her sentence would be announced in 15 days.
Judge Fernando Castro announced the ruling and described Hurtado’s conduct as “an arbitrary and unjust abuse of authority.”
Those targeted in the wiretapping schemes, which took place between 2007 and 2008, were all political opponents of the US-backed Uribe, who is now a senator in the opposition to current President Juan Manuel Santos.
Additionally, Uribe’s former chief of staff Bernardo Moreno has also been indicted on power abuse charges, though he denies any awareness about the illegal spying efforts.
According to local press reports, both Hurtado and Moreno face more than 10 years imprisonment.
Moreno will remain free on bail until he is officially sentenced, but Hurtado has already been taken into custody.
She reportedly fled the country in 2010 when Uribe left office and the spying allegations were unveiled.
She was then granted asylum in Panama but was forced to turn herself in to Columbian authorities last month after the asylum was revoked.
Meanwhile, Uribe’s former agriculture minister has also been convicted of corruption and several of his former administration officials remain under investigation over similar charges.
MFB/NT/AS
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