The alleged illegal wiretaps of Supreme Court judges were not ordered
by the Presidency, newspaper El Tiempo reported Monday after having
read the testimony of the DAS’ former counter-intelligence director
Jorge Lagos.
In earlier reports by television network RCN — based on the same testimonies made before the Prosecutor General — Lagos was quoted saying he did give information on Supreme Court judges to the Presidency. Lagos, in an interview with W Radio, confirmed his meetings with the Presidency and said he had requested to be included in a witness protection program because he feared for his life and that of his family.
However, in the documents reported on by El Tiempo, Lagos and former intelligence chief Fernando Tabares testified they met with President Uribe’s personal secretary and press secretary to talk about Supreme Court magistrates’ alleged contacts with a suspected ally of the mafia and denied having received orders to wiretap magistrates.
Colombia’s Prosecutor General is currently investigating the DAS for allegedly illegally having wiretapped opponents of the government. The Presidency is suspected of having ordered these wiretaps.