A campaign worker of hard-line candidate Oscar Ivan Zuluaga was arrested on Tuesday, less than 24 hours after a judge ordered his release claiming there was not enough evidence to hold the suspect on allegations he spied on Colombia’s ongoing peace talks with rebel group FARC.
Arrested on May 6 for espionage and for intercepting private communications of negotiators, alleged hacker Andres Sepulveda was released from custody on Monday as a judge found that evidence was insufficient to merit the suspect’s incarceration for the duration of the trial.
However, according to newspaper El Tiempo, vice-Prosecutor General Jorge Perdomo said on Tuesday that a second judge has ordered to re-capture the alleged hacker for indictment, sending him back into detention while evidence is re-examined.
“We are facing very serious acts that not only affect national security but also affect some State intelligence agencies and the work of the District Attorney’s Office. This is a very well supported investigation. I want to make it clear that this process is more alive than ever. We are investigating those who intend to sabotage this process. We have videos of the buying and selling of information from the army and police,” stated Perdomo.
MORE: Wiretap scandal has not threatened govt. peace talks with FARC: Negotiator
The Prosecutor General’s Office allegedly has a large collection of evidence to use against Sepulveda. According to El Tiempo, this list includes videos of the hacker transmitting confidential information to other people which have been verified by forensic investigators confirming their authenticity, videos that reveal the buying and selling of intelligence information from the army and police, data bases and witness statements.
Sepulveda has admitted to having links with military intelligence and surveillance equipment was found in his apartment that was allegedly used to intercept communications from the peace negotiations and information on Juan Manuel Santos, Zuluaga’s opponent in the second round of presidential elections set to be held on Sunday.
Prosecutor General Eduardo Montealegre ordered a criminal investigation into judge Teresita Barrera, following the allegedly illegitimate liberation of Sepulveda.
Sources
- El CTI recaptura al ‘hacker’ Andrés Sepúlveda (El Tiempo)
- Recapturan a hacker Andrés Sepúlveda (Caracol Radio)
