Former prosecutor general to be investigated for paramiltary links

The Colombian House of Representatives opened a preliminary investigation into a former prosecutor general for allegedly financing his election with funds from narco-trafficking, Caracol Radio reported Friday.

A three person group of investigators will probe former Prosecutor General Mario Iguaran, who according to former paramilitary Carlos Julio Jimenez, alias “ Macaco,” obtained his election with the help of various narco-paramilitary leaders who contributed several million pesos.

The investigation, which will also investigate magistrates of the Supreme Court of Justice who are accused of being bribed, was opened at the request of Inspector General Alejandro Ordoñez, a fellow member of the Supreme Court.

Orlando Clavijo of the Conservative Party was appointed lead investigator. Camilo Andres Abril of the Cambio Radical Party and Jorge Gomez Villamizar of the Liberal Party are the other two members of the investigation team.

The judicial account of Macaco indicates that the paramilitary and narco-trafficking bosses, some of whom have been extradited, pooled a great deal of money in order to bribe the magistrates of the Supreme Court who chose the Prosecutor General in 2005. Iguaran is currently the Colombian ambassador to Egypt.

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