Colombia suspends ‘most important project of this century’
How to end the war in western Colombia?
Colombia’s government talks peace with ELN in Cuba
Colombia and Venezuela reestablish diplomatic ties
How to keep Venezuela’s diaspora in Colombia safe?
Colombia’s new government proposes tax reform to finance...
Peace talks with Colombia’s ELN guerrillas ‘about to...
Colombia’s largest paramilitary group announces unilateral ceasefire
The men and women who will govern Colombia...
Gustavo Petro sworn in as Colombia’s new president
  • About
  • Support
  • Newsletter
  • Contact
Colombia News | Colombia Reports
  • News
    • General
    • Analysis
    • War and peace
    • Elections
    • Economy
    • Culture
    • Sports
    • Science and Tech
  • Travel
    • General
    • Bogota
    • Medellin
    • Cali
    • Cartagena
    • Antioquia
    • Caribbean
    • Pacific
    • Coffee region
    • Amazon
    • Southwest Colombia
    • Northeast Colombia
    • Central Colombia
  • Data
    • Economy
    • Crime and security
    • War and peace
    • Development
    • Cities
    • Regions
    • Provinces
  • Profiles
    • Organized crime
    • Politics
    • Armed conflict
    • Economy
    • Sports
  • Lite
  • Opinion
Nestor Humberto Martinez (Image credit: La FM)
News

Colombia’s Supreme Court elects new chief prosecutor

by Adriaan Alsema July 12, 2016

Colombia’s Supreme Court elected the prosecutor general who will be responsible for the country’s fight against crime in the years following a peace deal with leftist FARC rebels.

The new prosecutor general, former Minister Nestor Humberto Martinez, has long enjoyed close ties to Colombia’s business and political elite.

Martinez has been a member of four of the past five administrations and the legal representative of some of Colombia’s largest corporations.

The new prosecutor general is a personal friend of President Juan Manuel Santos and Vice-President German Vargas, who is tipped as one of the favorites of succeeding Santos in 2018.

Martinez also has cordial relations with former President Alvaro Uribe, who has long claimed to be the victim of a political persecution by Martinez’ predecessor after the imprisonment of numerous allies on charges of corruption or ties to death squads.

The newly elected chief prosecutor general was put in charge of the Prosecutor General’s Office just as the judicial body began putting together criminal investigations of war crimes allegedly committed by guerrillas and state officials.

These war crime allegations are expected to be tried before a transitional justice tribunal in the event the FARC and the Santos administration sign peace.

Martinez will also have to oversee ongoing investigations of organized crime and paramilitary successor groups running Colombia’s massive drug trafficking industry.

Nestor Humberto MartinezProsecutor General's Office

Trending

  • Colombia to seek decriminalization of drugs despite US objections

  • Medellin’s secret history of violence against women and girls

  • How serious is Colombia’s president-elect about fighting corruption?

Related articles

  • Court orders Colombia’s prosecution to try Uribe on fraud and bribery charges

  • Colombia orders ‘illegal’ search at renowned news program

  • Colombia ‘spying on human rights defenders’

  • RSS

@2008-2019 - Colombia Reports. All Rights Reserved.
Powered by Digitale Zaken and Parrolabs


Back To Top