Colombia’s Congress General Secretary, Luis Emilio Otero, admitted
Tuesday he knows Juan Felipe Sierra, an alleged ally of drug lord ‘Don
Mario’, but denied having done business with the controversial
businessman.
The prosecution released recordings in which Juan Felipe Sierra and Pastrana — both identified as friends of former Medellin District Attorney Guillermo Valencia who is awaiting trial for corruption charges — talked about an illegal business deal. In this conversations they mentioned Luis Emilio Otero as a contact person of Sierra to purchase arms.
Facing these accusations, Otero told Radio W he did not have business relations with Sierra, he only met the alleged drug trafficker a couple of times. “I am suprised with the news where they say they mention me. I would lie when saying I did not know Felipe Sierra because I knew him. I have seen him about two or three times. But I am surprised he said I helped him to buy some kind of weapons for his business,” Otero said.
The Congress Secretary told the radio station former Medellin District Attorney Guillermo Valencia introduced Sierra to him. Otero added he knows Valencia for a long time because he is a well known person in Medellin.
Valencia is currently awaiting trial for corruption charges. He is alleged to have favored now jailed drug king pin ‘Don Mario’. Sierra is accused of being part of the drug trafficking organization of ‘Don Mario’ and of being implicated in the corruption case against Valencia.
Sierra disappeared after he was released from prison following a controversial decision of a judge, who later got arrested for setting free key witnesses in the case against Valencia.
