Ex-DAS official makes plea bargain in wiretap case

A former deputy director of intelligence agency DAS, Martha Ines Leal, negotiates a preliminary plea bargain to reduce her sentence in a trial for the illegal wiretapping of government opponents.

Leal accepted the criminal charges against her, which could lead to a prison sentence of five to eight years, reports Caracol Radio.

The former deputy director is on trial for conspiracy, abuse of public office, and unlawful violation of communications.

The deal will be submitted for consideration by the representatives of the victims. The prosecutor has also requested a public hearing in front of a judge.

Fernando Tabares, former director of Colombia’s intelligence agency DAS and the deputy director of counterintelligence, Jorge Alberto Lagos have both been sentenced to eight years in prison for their role in the illegal wiretapping.

Many other high level officials from the Uribe administration have been investigated for the illegal surveillance of Supreme Court judges, journalists, and human rights workers, amongst others. Congress has opened an investigation into how much former President Uribe knew about the wiretapping.

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