Colombia’s Justice Minister, Ivan Cancino, downplayed the evidence of ties between President Abelardo de la Espriella and drug traffickers that was displayed in Congress by opposition Senator Ivan Cepeda.
In a video, Cancino said that “political oversight is a fundamental tool of our democracy. However, it cannot become an arena for launching accusations without proving and substantiating them.”
The justice minister admitted that the pieces of evidence provided to Congress “may seem serious,” but “lack conclusive or solid evidence, as well as any support that could jeopardize the innocence and the presumption of innocence of our president.”
It is not just about displaying organizational charts, deeds from over a decade ago, and business transactions to construct a narrative that supports neither judicial decisions nor the documentary, testimonial, circumstantial, or expert backing required for these types of accusations.
Ivan Cancino
Cancino accused the opposition of remaining “silent regarding the grave scandals involving corruption, drug trafficking, and even alleged sexual abuse, as well as fiscal irresponsibility and possible links to criminal organizations that surrounded the previous government. ”
The justice minister was forced to come out after Cepeda showed Congress evidence of De la Espriella’s business ties with multiple convicted drug traffickers and announced criminal complaints against the president.
De la Espriella’s law firm rose to prominence during the demobilization of paramilitary organization AUC with whom he created a foundation that sought to justify the paramilitary violence that terrorized much of Colombia in the 1990’s and 2000s.
Once the ties between the AUC and elected politicians became known, the president ended up defending many of the “parapoliticians” in court.
According to Cepeda, De la Espriella plays a key role in a “revolving door” system that could end up benefiting the very drug traffickers and corrupt politicians that have paid the president for his legal defense in the past.
Related posts:
