Ex Colombian President Alvaro Uribe’s former security chief will stand trial in September for being unable to justify approximately $350,000 of income with alleged economic ties to the Medellin drug cartel, reported El Tiempo on Wednesday.
Former general and presidential security chief, Flavio Buitrago, and his wife, Elba Pulido have been under investigation since March surrounding allegations of economic ties to the now defunct Medellin Cartel, once led by Pablo Escobar.
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For not being able to explain almost $350,000 of unjustified income, Buitrago will be brought to trial in September on counts of money laundering, and illicit enrichment.
The ex-general and his wife were implicated in a statement made by former Medellin Cartel member Marco Antonio Gil, alias “El Papero,” who became a witness for the prosecution after pleading guilty to crimes of money laundering, drug trafficking and illicit enrichment.
After comparing El Papero’s statements to the accounts and tax returns of both Buitrago and Pulido ranging between the years 1998 and 2011, researchers and investigators found evidence of illicit enrichment, according to El Tiempo.
Since first accused earlier this year, Buitrago has maintained his innocence saying that he met Gil as a businessman when he was a police officer.
This marks the second ex-security chief of former President Alvaro Uribe investigated on similar charges of ties to drug trafficking or paramilitaries.
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Sources