Colombia’s Supreme Court Monday asked the prosecutor general to place two witnesses in the trial of former DAS director Jorge Noguera under state protection, due to reports that they are being followed and threatened.
The court requested protection for the witnesses, former DAS employee Matha Leal and former paramilitary Wilson Mayorga, during the public hearing against Noguera, who is on trial for his alleged involvement in the DAS wiretapping scandal.
The scandal involved the illegal wiretapping and surveillance of magistrates, politicians, journalists and trade unionists, and officials up to the highest level of government – such as President Alvaro Uribe’s personal secretary Bernardo Moreno – have been implicated in the affair.
Magistrate Alfredo Gomez Quintero, who is hearing the case, also announced that DAS sub-director Jorge Narvaez will be called next to give testimony.
Current DAS director Carlos Arturo Riaño Castellanos is presently on the stand.
