Colombia’s ex-chief of security police given 14-year jail term
The former head of Colombia’s secret police has been sentenced to 14 years in jail for illegal wiretapping on politicians, judges and journalists.
A court in Colombia found Maria del Pilar Hurtado, the former director of Colombia’s now-dissolved Administrative Department of Security (DAS), guilty on charges of illicit surveillance of communications, as well as abusing authority and public office and conspiracy to violate the law.
The judge had described the conduct of the 51-year-old Hurtado as “an arbitrary and unjust abuse of authority.”
She reportedly fled the country in 2010 when US-backed former President Alvaro Uribe left office, and when the spying allegations surfaced.
She was then granted asylum in Panama but was forced to turn herself in to Colombian authorities last month after the asylum was revoked.
Those targeted in the wiretapping scheme, which took place between 2007 and 2008, were all the political opponents of Uribe, who is now a senator in the opposition to current President Juan Manuel Santos.
In addition, Uribe’s former chief of staff, Bernardo Moreno, was also given an eight-year sentence on charges of abuse of power, to be served at his home.
Also, Uribe’s former agriculture minister has been convicted of corruption, and several of his former administration officials remain under investigation over similar charges.
Colombia’s Supreme Court has also called for Uribe himself to be investigated for his role in the scandal.
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