Colombia’s Supreme Court has convicted 37 congressmen and five governors for their ties to paramilitary groups since the scandal broke in 2006, the court said Wednesday.
Court prosecutors are investigating another 139 cases of alleged “parapolitics” by congressmen and governors, the Supreme Court’s press office told Colombia Reports.
Congressmen Carlos Garcia Orjuela, Pompilio Avendaño and Luis Fernando Velasco are the only lawmakers who have been absolved of parapolitics charges.
The parapolitics scandal came to light after the demobilization of AUC commander “Jorge 40,” whose computer contained pacts with politicians in which the AUC committed to helping politicians get voted into office in return for them defending the interests of the paramilitaries, held responsible for the murder of tens of thousands of Colombians.
The Supreme Court is not in charge of the investigations of local and regional lawmakers.