Colombia’s Inspector General Alejandro Ordoñez denied accusations from former President Alvaro Uribe that the Supreme Court pressured Ordoñez to rule against government officials, reports El Espectador.
The ex-president said that the Supreme Court had pressured the Inspector General’s Office into making decisions in the DAS wiretapping scandals involving officials such as Uribe’s personal secretary Bernardo Moreno and the head of Colombia’s financial intelligence office Mario Aranguren.
Ordoñez said that Uribe’s comments were irresponsible and that he all decisions had been “taken on the basis of the constitution, law and evidence.”
The official said that when he had been appointed he committed to acting with “independence and character.”
“My life as a judicial official and my character prevent anyone from pressuring me,” Ordoñez said.
Uribe also came under fire Wednesday from both the coalition government and the opposition for defending the political asylum of his former intelligence chief.
At least two of Uribe’s closest aides have requested political asylum abroad following criminal investigations against them. Panama granted asylum to Del Pilar Hurtado who is accused of ordering the illegal wiretapping of the supreme court, journalists, politicians and human rights activists, while Costa Rica said it turned down an asylum request by former Interior and Justice Minister Sabas Pretelt de la Vega, who is investigated for the bribery of congressmen to approve the 2006 re-election run of Uribe.