Arrest warrant for former spy chief hiding in Panama extended

A Colombian court has extended for one year an arrest warrant against the former director of the Colombian secret service, who fled to in Panama while under investigation in an espionage case.

María del Pilar Hurtado is wanted for alleged spying and wire-tapping activities against judges , opposition leaders , human rights defenders and journalists.

She is one of a number high ranking officialswho have fled to Panama from their homelands, to avoid facing justice.
The decision was adopted by the Superior Court of Bogota at the request of the Attorney General , investigating  the ex funcionary for espionage during the previous government of Alvaro Uribe (2002-2010).
The court extended the arrest warrant stating  that it is necessary for the investigation to be presented to the authorities to clarify what went on..
Some former officials of the Administrative Department of Security ( DAS ) have been sentenced to prison in the espionage case , which became known in 2009 when a magazine revealed details oftraces and wiretapping , considered illegal because it was not ordered by a judge or prosecutor.
The intelligence agency, which reported directly to the President, was liquidated by the current government of Juan Manuel Santos because of the irregularities.
William Romero, DAS former official involved in the process said that President Uribe was aware of illegal wiretapping and surveillance against "political targets" for his government.
Romero made the statement as part of the trial for the case against Bernardo Moreno, who was secretary general of the presidency during the Uribe administration.
Hurtado, former director of the DAS in the latter part of the Uribe government , left the country before the arrest warrant against her was issued and received asylum in Panama in late 2010 .