Ex-minister to be called to testify on 'paramilitary ties'

[Judi Lynn]

Ex-minister to be called to testify on 'paramilitary ties'
Wednesday, 02 March 2011 07:57
Adriaan Alsema

Colombia's Prosecutor General Office confirmed Wednesday it will call former Interior and Justice Minister Sabas Pretelt de la Vega to testify about his alleged ties to now-demobilized paramilitary group AUC.

In an interview with W Radio, deputy Prosecutor General Juan Carlos Forero said the former minister will be asked to defend himself against allegations by demobilized paramilitary bosses who have testified that the former minister asked for their support for the 2004 constitutional change that allowed the 2006 re-election of former President Alvaro Uribe.

According to Forero, several paramilitary bosses have said that Pretelt de la Vega discussed the 2006 re-election in a holiday home in the north of Colombia.

The Prosecutor General's Office started a preliminary investigation against the former minister, who is also investigated for the bribery of congressmen to secure the constitutional change.

More:
http://colombiareports.com/colombia-news/news/14679-former-minister-to-testify-on-alleged-paramilitary-ties.html

[Judi Lynn]

1. From November: Costa Rica on Tuesday said it had rejected a request for political asylum from former

Costa Rica says rejected ex-minister's asylum request
Wednesday, 24 November 2010 07:14 Adriaan Alsema

Costa Rica on Tuesday said it had rejected a request for political asylum from former Colombian Interior and Justice Minister Sabas Pretelt de la Vega, who is under investigation for allegedly bribing congressmen to approve the 2006 re-election run of then-President Alvaro Uribe.

"The Foreign Ministry has no pending request of political asylum. The last one was rejected on October 6, of mister Sabas Pretelt de la Vega, former minister of Colombia," Costa Rica's Foreign Minister Rene Castro said at a press conference.

The ex-official denies having sought asylum, but said he asked for subsidiary protection. "This is not being a refugee <...> it protects a person against threats against his life," Pretelt de la Vega told W Radio.

According to Pretelt de la Vega, he requested similar protection from the government of Italy, where he was ambassador until May when a conviction of the Inspector General's Office and the criminal investigation against him by the Prosecutor General's Office forced him to leave office.

More:
http://colombiareports.com/colombia-news/news/13071-costa-rica-rejects-political-asylum-investigated-former-minister.html