Colombia’s Prosecutor General Office confirmed Wednesday it will call former Interior and Justice Minister Sabas Pretelt de la Vega to testify about his alleged ties to now-demobilized paramilitary group AUC.
In an interview with W Radio, deputy Prosecutor General Juan Carlos Forero said the former minister will be asked to defend himself against allegations by demobilized paramilitary bosses who have testified that the former minister asked for their support for the 2004 constitutional change that allowed the 2006 re-election of former President Alvaro Uribe.
According to Forero, several paramilitary bosses have said that Pretelt de la Vega discussed the 2006 re-election in a holiday home in the north of Colombia.
The Prosecutor General’s Office started a preliminary investigation against the former minister, who is also investigated for the bribery of congressmen to secure the constitutional change.