Colombian prosecutor gets 15 years for drug links
March 11th, 2011 - 12:21 pm ICT by IANSBogota, March 11 (IANS/EFE) A senior Colombian prosecutor was sentenced to 15 years in prison for colluding with right-wing militia and drug traffickers.
Guillermo Leon Valencia Cossio committed a “varied mix of crimes” while serving as chief regional prosecutor in the northwestern city of Medellin, Supreme Court Justice Jorge Luis Quintero said Thursday.
Besides the prison term, Valencia faces a fine of $3.19 million and a 15-year ban on holding any public post.
The court found him guilty of criminal conspiracy, illegal enrichment and destruction of public documents after a trial that lasted more than two years.
Colombia’s national police director, Gen. Oscar Naranjo, said Valencia’s action hampered efforts against the drug-dealing militia faction led by Daniel “Don Mario” Rendon.
Valencia was arrested in September 2008, when his brother Fabio Valencia was serving as interior and justice minister in the administration of President Alvaro Uribe.
In October last year, the US government formally designated Valencia as a drug trafficker.
–IANS/EFE
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Tags: criminal conspiracy, don mario, drug trafficker, drug traffickers, guillermo leon valencia, jorge luis, justice minister, luis quintero, mario rendon, medellin, militia, naranjo, national police, northwestern city, police director, president alvaro uribe, prison term, prosecutor, public documents, supreme court justice