The corruption of Guillermo Valencia Cossio, former director of Medellín's prosecution and brother of Colombia's Interior and Justice Minister, is a disgrace for justice, the prosecutor told the Supreme Court on the first day of Valencia's trial Monday.
"It's a disgrace for the prosecution and for justice that a regional director used his position to do what the Prosecution will show," prosecutor Ángela Buitrago told the court at the beginning of the first day of Valencia's trial.
Valencia Cossio is on trial for corruption, because he allegedly had done favors for the organization of suspected drug lord 'Don Mario' in exchange for gifts.
According to one of the witnesses, National Police chief Oscar Naranjo, the reason to investigate Valencia Cossio was his request to remove 'El Indio', the suspected number two of the organization, from the official suspect list.
The defense of the accused tried to convince the judge that El Indio is no part of the organization of the alleged drug lord. Former paramilitary boss Ever 'HH' Veloza. 'HH' had worked with both Daniel 'Don Mario' Rendón, his brother Freddy 'El Alemán' Rendón and Jhon Fredy 'El Indio' Manco Torres when they all were part of the AUC's Élmer Cárdenas Block.
According to 'HH', 'El Indio' was the right hand man of 'El Aleman' before the AUC demobilized, but he never knew 'El Indio' became the right hand man of 'El Aleman's brother, 'Don Mario'.
Naranjo and colonel Jorge López, who is in charge of the investigation of 'Don Mario' and his organization, both claimed 'El Indio' joined 'Don Mario' after the AUC, including 'El Aleman' demobilized.
The prosecution says to have 7,000 intercepted phonecalls between Valencia Cossio and members of the organization of 'Don Mario', that would prove his ties to the paramilitary cartel.
