Colombia’s Supreme Court has ordered the arrest of former Senator Habib Merheg over the lawmaker’s alleged ties to now-defunct paramilitary organization AUC.
The disgraced senator is suspected of having used financial support of the AUC for his 2002 election campaign.
In return, Merheg allegedly vowed support to the AUC’s Central Bolivar Block and is suspected of illegally having funneled state-owned lands to the paramilitaries.
The former senator, a member of the now-defunct political party Viva Colombia, was incriminated by former AUC commanders “Ernesto Baez,” “Macaco” and “Rasguño,” as well as drug trafficker “El Tuso,” who worked closely with the AUC.
Merheg is the last of dozens of former senators who have been accused of “parapolitics,” a series of alliances between the AUC politicians and public officials particularly common during the administration of former President Alvaro Uribe, who himself is being investigated for his alleged ties to the AUC.
Sources
- Ordenan la captura del exsenador Habib Merheg por ‘parapolítica’ (El Tiempo)
- Habib Merheg Marún (Congreso Visible)