Prosecutors on Monday formally requested Colombia’s Supreme Court to convict two former aides of ex-President Alvaro Uribe allegedly involved in a plot of tracking and wiretapping journalists, judges, congressmen and human rights defenders.
In its final speech before the ruling, the prosecution asked the court to convict Uribe’s former chief of staff, Bernardo Moreno, and the former director of now-defunct intelligence agency DAS, Maria del Pilar Hurtado.
Prosecutor Maria Victoria Parra gave a detailed account of the research process which advanced against Moreno and Hurtado and the developing case against the wiretapping calls.
According to the prosecuting body, there is “no doubt” that the actions of the two former officials were outside the law and, therefore, requested that these two individuals be declared responsible for the crimes of conspiracy, unlawful communication and abuse of public office. Both are facing a sentence of up to 15 years in prison.
MORE: DAS wiretapping scandal
For Hurtado, the prosecuting body also asked for a conviction for embezzlement by appropriation and misrepresentation.
At the meeting on Monday in court, Bernardo Moreno answered the prosecutor’s questions about his involvement in this case and stated that he never violated the law.
Moreno said that President Alvaro Uribe requested information on trips to Venezuela of former Senator Piedad Cordoba, a staunch leftist and ally of late Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez.
“On occasion (Uribe) told Maria del Pilar: ‘Tell us a little more of those topics Venezuela, those issues with Piedad Cordoba'” said the former chief of staff.
MORE: ‘Uribe should respond to wiretapping scandal’: former spy
The prosecutor handling the case said during the hearing Monday that “there is no doubt of the illegality of their actions, much less on the criminal liability of the accused Maria del Pilar Hurtado and Bernardo Moreno”.
Tuesday is scheduled for another hearing in which the prosecution will finish its arguments. Then it will be the turn of the victims and the defense of each of the two defendants before the Supreme Court rules on the defendants’ innocence or guilt.
Maria del Pilar Hurtado is a fugitive from justice since 2010 when she took refuge in Panama. At this point her whereabouts are unknown.
MORE: Former Colombia spy chief remains in Panama following asylum appeal
Sources
- Fiscalía pidió condenar a Bernardo Moreno y María del Pilar Hurtado (El Tiempo)
- Fiscalía pide condena para María del Pilar Hurtado y Bernardo Moreno (Caracol)
- Solicitan condena contra dos exfuncionarios del Gobierno de Uribe (El Espectador)
