A tale of two Colombian colonels in a parapolitical saga

A tale of two Colombian colonels in a parapolitical saga
Posted by Emma Rosser on Jul 10, 2015



An Army colonel who was key witness in a trial that sent a former Police colonel-turned-governor to prison is fearing for his life, while the convicted former official has been welcomed home as a hero following an early release.

Former Colonel Julio Cesar Prieto has broken his silence in reaction to the early release and consequent victorious reception received by former Governor Hugo Aguilar in the central province of Santander. He in contrast revealed the constant terror that he and his family now live in due to his testimonial in 2007 that was key to Aguilar’s final conviction.

The former governor was a major player in Colombia’s parapolitics scandals, in which some 70 congressmen and governors were convicted for their connections with paramilitary units who used death squads and intimidation to coerce voters to get their allies elected into office.

Colonel Hugo Aguilar

Colonel Hugo Aguilar rose to fame in December 1993 after leading the Search Bloc in the successful hunt of Colombia’s notorious drug lord, Pablo Escobar.

More:
http://colombiareports.com/a-tale-of-two-colombian-colonels-in-a-parapolitical-saga/