Jailed ex spy-boss suing Panama for revoking asylum

FORMER COLOMBIA Intelligence Director Maria del Pilar Hurtado, who was given a 14 years jail term for illegal wiretapping  judges, journalists and opposition politicians  has filed a claim against Panama before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights over the decision to revoke her asylum in 2014.

She received asylum on Nov. 19, 2010, during the   Ricardo Martinelli administration She fled Panama to avoid a criminal trial on illegal surveillance carried out during the government of Álvaro Uribe (2002-2010). Martinelli is now facing similar charges.

Víctor Mosquera, Hurtado’s lawyer, explained that she is seeking monetary damages for the decision, which was made after the Supreme Court determined that her asylum request was unconstitutional and that Hurtado was in the country illegally.

She was extradited to Colombia to face charges of aggravated abuse of public office, violation of communications, embezzlement by misappropriation and falsification of documents.

Mosquera, who presented the complaint at the commission headquarters in Washington, acknowledged that the process “could take at least a year,” and added that “if there is no amicable solution, we will go to the Inter-American Court.”