Arrest warrant issued for former Colombian secret service director

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Xinhua

Arrest warrant issued for former Colombian secret service director
14:57, May 25, 2011

Bogota's criminal division of the Superior Court Wednesday ordered the arrest of a former secret service director who has been accused of participating in illegal spying during the administration of former President Alvaro Uribe.

Maria del Pilar Hurtado, who was granted territorial asylum in Panama last November, served as director of the Department of Administrative Security (DAS). She has been accused of ordering the illegal wiretapping and surveillance of opposition politicians, High Court judges and journalists.

"The long list of facts for the prosecution, although in some areas undermined by the activities of the defenders, is still allowed to make reasonable that there can be criminal offenses for which a trial is necessary," Luis Fernando Ramirez, the judge at the criminal division of the Superior Court, said.

Ramirez took into account the testimonies of former DAS officials Fernando Tabares and Jorge Lagos, who had admitted to espionage and testified against Hurtado.

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