Colombia’s Supreme Court on Monday convicted former President Alvaro Uribe’s initial intelligence chief for setting up an illegal spy unit that would eventually wiretap the court, journalists and human rights defenders.
The court additionally ordered the investigation of the former president, who has seen three of his four former intelligence chiefs disappear behind bars because of the illegal spying practices by now-defunct intelligence agency DAS.
DAS wiretapping scandal | Fact sheet
The first of Uribe’s intelligence chiefs, Jorge Noguera, is already serving a 25-year prison sentence for other crimes, but was called to trial again for spying on now-House Representative Alirio Uribe and journalist Claudia Duque.
According to the Supreme Court, the former DAS director and his immediate subordinates “designed and organized” the so-called G-3 spying unit “to commit crimes under the shelter of so-called strategic intelligence.”
Supreme Court
Both Noguera and Narvaez at the time made the connection between the Uribe administration and the AUC, the paramilitary umbrella group Uribe allegedly colluded with.
AUC collaborated with Uribe government, spy agency: Don Berna
The DAS reported directly to the president until current President Juan Manuel Santos dismantled the disgraced agency in 2011.
While both intelligence officials have long been sentenced for their paramilitary ties, the former president’s wiretapping case has been with Congress’ Accusations Committee since 2011.
The Supreme Court is investigating the current hard right opposition leader’s alleged paramilitary ties.
Uribe’s problems with Colombia’s justice just went from bad to worse
Noguera’s sentencing is expected within three weeks and would further extend the former intelligence chief’s stay in Bogota’s La Picota prison.