Uribe's former chief of staff to await wiretap trial at liberty

[Judi Lynn]

Uribe's former chief of staff to await wiretap trial at liberty
Tuesday, 24 May 2011 17:56
Toni Peters

Colombia's Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that Bernardo Moreno, chief of staff under Colombia's former President Alvaro Uribe, will not have to go to jail while awaiting trial for his alleged role in the illegal wiretapping of Supreme Court judges, journalists, politicians and human rights workers.

In the same ruling, a Supreme Court judge ruled that there are enough reasons to send the former director of Colombia's state intelligence agency DAS, Maria del Pilar Hurtado, to jail while awaiting trial.

Moreno's defense attorney had asked for his client to be granted house arrest until after the trial, claiming his client has so far collaborated with justice and has shown no intention to escape.

Judge Luis Fernando Ramirez agreed and turned down the Prosecutor General's request to send Moreno to jail.

More:
http://www.colombiareports.com/colombia-news/news/16498-uribes-former-chief-of-staff-to-await-wiretap-trial-at-home.html

[Peace Patriot]

1. Get this...

(further down in the article)

"...Hurtado's lawyer, whose client did escape the country and is now in Panama, also rejected her arrest, defending the monitoring of the Supreme Court and former senator Piedad Cordoba as 'probably one of the most legitimate in history.'” --from the OP (my emphasis)

-------------

What could possibly justify Uribe illicitly spying on judges? They are "terrorists," too? (He did state publicly that everyone who opposes him is a "terrorist.")

Leave Piedad Cordoba out of that sentence--a political opponent of Uribe's with a different idea of how to deal with Colombia's 70 year civil war with the leftist guerrillas (a negotiated disarmament and peace)--and the absurdity of Hurtado's position becomes clear. Spying on political opponents who oppose your damned "scorched earth" war on MANY INNOCENT people--trade unionists, peasant farmers, teachers, community activists, human rights workers--is one thing; spying on judges (also prosecutors) who are uncovering your many crimes is quite another. Hurtado's lawyer tries to smoosh them together. The first reveals Uribe as a bloody-handed warmonger; the second reveals him as a scaredy cat, trying to protect his own skin and save himself for his life of luxury, protection and academic honors in the USA.

The two sides of Uribe: striding warmonger and cheap crook on the run.

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Thank you for providing what is or will be the bases for the international warrant issued against Hurtado (who fled to Panama):

"...a Supreme Court judge ruled that there are enough reasons to send the former director of Colombia's state intelligence agency DAS, Maria del Pilar Hurtado, to jail while awaiting trial." --from the OP

I think before she was, technically, just a "material witness" who had fled (their chief target being Uribe). Now she is a prosecution target and it will be very difficult for Uribe's pal in Panama, Martinelli, to ignore the warrant. He will be truly spitting on Colombia's justice system (as Hurtado's lawyer just did) and maybe will need more incentives to keep a lid on this? (I'd sure like to know what the incentives are and who is providing them. My suspicion is the CIA, cuz I think this spying investigation has a Bushwhack connection, and/or if Colombian prosecutors successfully nab Uribe on his vast illegal spying network, Uribe's deal to keep his lip zipped on other Bush Junta crimes in Colombia will be null and void. Junior in peril; the CIA to the rescue?)

[naaman fletcher]

2. martinelli

"Now she is a prosecution target and it will be very difficult for Uribe's pal in Panama, Martinelli, to ignore the warrant. "

Martinelli ignores panama's judges. That, added to the fact that he is a dick, tells me he will have no problem ignoring the warrent.

[gbscar]

3. The paranoia and cynicism of Uribe/Hurtado is, indeed, something to behold. (nt)