Spying allegations moving closer to Uribe’s door

A criminal judge has  ordered the arrest of  a close aide of former Colombian President Alvaro Uribe who was the keynote speaker at a Panamanian political gathering a week before.

Former Secretary General of the Presidency, Bernardo Moreno,  was arrested  for his alleged involvement in spying by the secret police.

This is the first court decision that goes directly to the doors of what was Uribe's office, against whom so far there is no formal process or investigation.

Uribe, was the keynote speaker  at the Panamenista congress in Panama a week before, a choice that surprised some political commentators. 

Moreno, an economist with 51 years, was at the headquarters of the criminal court in Bogota at the public hearing where the judge ordered his arrest at the request of lawyers for alleged victims of spying.

Moreno has denied the charges of conspiracy, unlawful violation of communications and public abuse, for which he might receive, if convicted, at least three years in jail.

The fate of Moreno, whose office was next to Uribe at the presidential palace, is key because the former president's opponents say that it was impossible that the former president was unaware of the work of his closest officials and secret police, which depends on the Presidency.

There is still no formal investigation against Uribe, a lawyer for 59 years, and he has always denied having given orders to spy and maintains that if there was the work of corrupt means officials of the secret police.

The former chief of intelligence María del Pilar Hurtado, who reported directly to Uribe, was granted asylum in Panama, by Martinelli. She is wanted to face trial in Colombia and an Interpol warrant has been issued for her arrest.