Ten new boxes of evidence arrived to Colombia’s Council of State supporting the dismissal of former general Mauricio Santoyo, reported Caracol Radio Monday.
New evidence emerged in the case against ex-president Alvaro Uribe’s former chief of security who has been accused of working hand in hand with the AUC paramilitary group.
The prosecution said it is clear that the ex-official was involved in wiretapping while he served as head of the Gaula’s Medellin office from 1996 to 2001, a special military unit dedicated to kidnapping prevention and rescue.
The prosecutor added that the evidence was clear and conclusive, and proved the telephone interception orders were falsified by various members of the Gaula, who were also investigated for the acts committed.
Santoyo has been accused of approving more than 1,800 illegal wiretaps for the AUC to provide them with information about suspected FARC collaborators.
The new boxes of evidence were submitted by the defense and public ministries last week and will be part of 14 journals and more than 2,000 files that make the case against Santoyo.
The Inspector General asked council to maintain the order of dismissal against the former general, who is currently being held in a United States jail on charges of helping the now defunct AUC paramiltary group thwart anti-trafficking efforts made by the U.S. and Colombian governments.
Santoyo is also being investigated for allegedly ordering the forced disappearance of two human rights workers in Medellin.
The ex-official is just one of thousands of politicans, officials and businessmen who have been implicated in “parapolitics,” the seeking of political or economic benefits through ties with paramilitary groups.
