Vatican ambassador to return home over wiretap scandal

Cesar Mauricio Velasquez, Colombia’s new ambassador to the Vatican,  will fly back to Bogota to testify about his alleged role in the illegal investigation of Supreme Court magistrates by state security agency DAS.

Velasquez was called for questioning after one of the DAS executives testified that in 2008 he met with Moreno on several occasions in the presidential palace to hand over information regarding the intelligence agency’s illegal surveillance of some members of the court.

The prosecutor general told Velasquez to return to Colombia, and refused to send investigators to Rome where Velasquez took up his position less than a week ago.

The ambassador’s defense attorney told radio station La FM that he does not agree with the PG’s decision to summon Velasquez to return, but that his client will cooperate with justice in the case.

“The interrogation will take place here in Bogota and Cesar Mauricio Velasquez will appear like he has always done to give explanation, because he has never evaded giving answers.,” defense attorney Jaime Granados Peña said.

Velasques is one of three former employees of the President’s Office who are investigated for their alleged involvement in the illegal wiretapping of judges, journalists, politicians and human rights workers.

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