A former paramilitary chief testified he met with former Senator Ivan Moreno Rojas, currently awaiting trial in jail for his alleged role in the Bogota public works corruption scandal.
Former paramilitary chief Ivan Roberto Duque, alias “Ernesto Baez” spoke of meeting with Moreno, brother of former Bogota mayor Samuel Moreno, who is in jail over the same scandal.
Baez said that in the department of Bolivar, contacts led him to make agreements with the former senator.
The allegations were made during the trial of the ex-president of Congress, Javier Caceres Leal.
Baez said “I remember meeting with the esteemed Mr Caceres … on the second occasion because of a simple fact that I also have in my memory … this same day in the hours of the night Ivan Moreno, Senator of the Republic visited us in Santa Fe de Ralito.”
The former paramilitary leader said in the meeting with Ivan Moreno “particular issues” were discussed.
The left-wing Moreno is one of many Colombian lawmakers accused of dealings with the right-wing paramilitary organization AUC. Dozens were convicted to prison sentences for using the paramilitaries’ power for political gain.
