A former chief of Colombia’s now-defunct intelligence agency DAS and a former police commander were arrested on Sunday in connection with the 1989 murder of the popular politician Luis Carlos Galan.
Former intelligence chief Manuel Antonio Gonzalez and retired Police Major Luis Felipe Montilla Barbosa have been formally accused of aggravated homicide of the Liberal Party politician who was killed at the order of slain drug lord Pablo Escobar.
“Luis Felipe Montilla Barbosa, commander of the Soacha District Police, who by virtue of his office, August 18 1989, was directly responsible, legally and constitutionally, for the security of the presidential candidate, Luis Carlos Galan, during the political rally that took place that day in the square of the city” where Galan was assassinated, read a statement from the Prosecutor General.
Gonzalez, then head of the public order unit of the DAS and responsible for the security coordination of the presidential candidate, was also named on the warrant.
The arrest warrants were ordered under National Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law in order to resolve the legal responsibility of those involved with security measures for the death of the politician.
Galan was assassinated during a public appearance by members of the Medellin drug cartel whom he had riled due to a proposed extradition treaty with the United States. A political rival of Galan was jailed last year for ordering the popular politician’s assassination.
Sources
- Medidas de aseguramiento por caso Luis Carlos Galan (Prosecutor General press release)
- Fiscalia ordena captura de ex jefe del DAS y policia retirado por asesinato de Galan (El Espectador)
