Colombia’s former president of congress Tuesday was ordered to respond to charges she illegally obtained information about former senator Piedad Cordoba.
The Criminal Chamber of the Supreme Court launched a formal investigation of Nancy Patricia Gutierrez for allegations that she requested confidential information about Cordoba from the Colombian intelligence agency DAS.
Patricia, who denies the allegations, will report to the Supreme Court in Colombia’s capital Bogota on January 27.
“The information did not come to me illegally,” Patricia said to the newspaper, “As the president of the senate I asked [Martha Leal] and she gave it to me pursuant to the order that was given to DAS.”
According to a confession by the former head of analysis of DAS Martha Leal, she had delivered a package to Gutierrez containing information about the finances of Cordoba’s controversial trip to Mexico, statements she made while she was there, and her efforts for the release of FARC hostages.
Cordoba was banned from the senate in 2010 for alleged ties to Colombia’s largest guerrilla group FARC.
Illegal spying on government opponents caused a major scandal in Colombia. Several of Uribe’s closest aides and DAS directors are under criminal investigation and the DAS is in the process of being dismantled.