A Medellín judge ruled Guillermo Valencia Cossio, resigned director of the city’s prosecution and brother of Colombia’s Interior of Justice
Minister is sentenced to house arrest until after his corruption trial.
The judge considered the prosecution’s evidence sufficient to temporarily deny the Minister’s brother his liberty to leave his home. The prosecution accuses the Minister’s brother of having ties to alleged drug lord ‘Don Mario’.
In a five hour session the prosecution presented evidence that will have to prove Valencia was guilty of conspiracy to commit a crime, aggravated unlawful enrichment, destroying or hiding documents, disclosure of judicial secrecy and the abuse of secret information.
Valencia denies the accusations and pleaded not guilty. “The important thing is that today I start the trial in which I will prove I am innocent,” he said just before the beginning of the hearing.
Valencia’s defense’s objection the arrest of the former prosecution chief was waved by the judge.