The Colombian Supreme Court issued an arrest warrant Wednesday for Alberto Santofimio Botero, a former presidential candidate, for his alleged involvement in the 1989 assassination of political rival Luis Carlos Galan.
Former Justice Minister Santofimio was originally convicted in 2007 and sentenced to more than 24 years in prison for his alleged role as the mastermind of the murder. The High Court of Cundinamerica’s acquitted him the following year, citing a lack of material evidence to prove his guilt.
Following Santofimio’s release, Galan’s family and the Prosecutor General’s Office filed an appeal to the Supreme Court requesting that his acquittal be overturned.
An investigation into Santofimio’s involvement in the assassination began after a former narco-trafficker, alias “Popeye,” testified that the ex-minister asked the Medellin Cartel, led by Pablo Escobar, to kill his political rival and front-running Liberal Party presidential candidate Galan.
According to Popeye’s testimony, Santofimio said to Escobar, “If Galan is president, I am sure he will extradite you, he will use all the power of the State to get to you, this time I tell it to you with knowledge of the facts: Pablo, kill him.”