International warrant for disgraced Colombian spy chief given asylum in Panama

An international arrest warrant has been issued for a former Colombian intelligence snoop, given asylum in Panama, is  providing a fresh conundrum for President Ricardo Martinelli.

The Attorney General of Colombia has issued the warrant against María del Pilar Hurtado, former director of central intelligence for involvement in a scheme of eavesdropping and illegal surveillance, according to a statement published in Bogota’s El Tiempo .

The newspaper says decision was taken by the attorney general, Viviane Morales, who is the lawyer for Howard and his colleague Bernardo The newspaper, attributed the information to "official sources", the prosecutor asked shortly to the Superior Court of Bogota to convene the hearing of charges against two former officials.

Hurtado and Bernardo Moreno will be prosecuted for conspiracy, illegal interception of communications, misuse of public office and falsifying documents. Moreno, was one of the general secretaries general former President Álvaro Uribe (2002-2010).

The charges arise from a campaign of illegal surveillance of judges, opposition politicians, human rights defenders and journalists.

The plot was set by the Department of Administrative Security (DAS) headed by Hurtado and extended through much of the two governments of Uribe.

In addition to the criminal case, Moreno and Hurtado faced a disciplinary case in the last October, and were removed and disqualified from public office for eighteen years.

A month after that penalty, Hurtado fled to Panama  and received territorial asylum. 
President Ricardo Martinelli, accused in Wikileaks revelations of asking the US ambassador for help in tracking political opponents, has defended given asylum to Hurtado.