The former mayor of Cucuta has accused the Colombian senate president of having ties with paramilitary groups, newspaper El Tiempo reported Friday.
Ex-mayor Ramiro Suarez told the newspaper that in 1993 Senator Juan Manuel Corzo introduced him to a drug trafficking businessman, Jensy Miranda, who gave a total of 130 million pesos to Suarez’s mayoral campaign and to former Norte de Santander Governor Miguel Morelli.
Suarez himself was sentenced for two years in jail for alliances with paramilitary groups. According to Radio Sante Fe, Miranda was extradited to Spain for narcotrafficking in 2009.
During the introduction, Corzo told Suarez that Miranda was a rancher and an industrialist, Suarez told the newspaper. But in truth Miranda was one of the heads of an international cocaine operation.
Suarez said that during a meeting in a parking lot, Miranda gave him 30 million pesos and Morelli 100 million pesos. Morelli has denied that he met with Miranda or has any relations with the narcotrafficker.
Corzo already has three criminal investigations against him for alleged corruption. Less than a week ago, Corzo appealed to lawmakers to receive a political immunity from prosecution while in office.
