Former chief prosecutor to respond to paramilitary accusations

Former Prosecutor General Luis Camilo Osorio is called to testify in Congress over his alleged links to paramilitary groups, said local media Sunday.

Osorio, who held office from 2001-2005, has frequently been accused for his reluctance to defend human rights while in office and for dropping cases against high-profile officials.

One of the most notable cases was when he first entered office and dropped all proceedings against the former head of Colombia’s armed forces, General Rito Alejo del Rio, for his alleged ties to paramilitaries.

Aside from paramilitary infiltration and influence on his office, Osorio is expected to answer questions about the murders of prosecutors Rosario Silba and Carlos Arturo Pinto and section investigator David Corzo. All three murders took place during Osorio time in office.

Osorio is one of hundreds Colombian former officials and politicians who are implicated in what’s been called the “parapolitics” scandal that revealed ties between politicians, businesses, military commanders and paramilitary groups.

The paramilitaries are considered to be responsible for tens of thousands of human rights violations in Colombia during the later half of the current Colombian Armed Conflict.

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