Inspector General orders investigation of Uribe over wiretap scandal

Colombia’s inspector general has ordered Congress to investigate former President Uribe for his role in the illegal wiretaps carried out by now defunct intelligence agency DAS, Noticias Uno reported Monday.

According to the newscast, Inspector General Alejandro Ordoñez issued the order after the defense of Marta Ines Leal Llanos, former sub-director of DAS, stated that she was only one link in the chain of command which started with former president Uribe.

Leal Llanos’ defense said “She complied with what she was ordered to do by her superior who in turn did the same with an order from his superior and, through the chain of command in existence in the DAS, the order came from the president at the time, Alvaro Uribe Velez.”

Leal Llanos was banned from from holding public office for 15 years for serious breaches of discipline in the exercise of her duty as a public servant on November 3.

The former intelligence agency spied on opposition politicians, magistrates, and journalists.

A special three-person commission of Congress’ Accusations Committee has opened an investigation into the former president over a year ago, but has not made any progress as so far five representatives resigned from the investigation and no other member of the committee wants to take part in the commission, which currently has only one member.

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