Former DAS director convicted in wiretapping scandal

[Judi Lynn]

Former DAS director convicted in wiretapping scandal
Wednesday, 13 October 2010 09:41 Christina Filipovic

http://colombiareports.com.nyud.net:8090/pics/2010/10/fernando_tabares_das.jpg

The convicted former director of Colombia's intelligence agency DAS has reached a plea agreement which will send him to prison for eight years for his role in the wiretapping scandal, reports El Espectador.

Fernando Tabares received the reduced sentence because of his cooperation in the investigation. He was found guilty of conspiracy charges through "abuse of public office" and "unlawful violations of communications." Tabares accepted the conviction, and apologized to the victims, saying that they targeted judges and opposition leaders for political reasons.

"There were no legal reasons to follow them, we only did it to discredit them," he said.

He pledged to continue cooperation with authorities so that all facts of the case are known.

More:
http://colombiareports.com/colombia-news/news/12354-former-das-director-convicted-wiretapping-scandal.html

(My emphasis.)