PROSECUTOR GENERAL'S OFFICE UNDER SCRUTINY

C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 008623 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/19/2016 TAGS: KJUS PGOV PINR PREL PTER CO SUBJECT: PROSECUTOR GENERAL'S OFFICE UNDER SCRUTINY Classified By: Political Counselor John Creamer Reasons: 1.4 (b) and (d) -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (C) Press revelations about a psychic on the payroll of the Prosecutor General' Office (Fiscalia) have generated press reports about Prosecutor General Iguaran's weak leadership and management, damaging his credibility and potentially affecting his ability to make principled decisions on controversial cases. Iguaran apologized for having the psychic on staff, admitted to poor judgment on personnel, and alluded to senior management changes in the near future. Deputy Fiscal Jorge Otalora denied accusations he leaked information about the psychic to deflect attention from his own alleged corrupt activities. End summary. -------------- PSYCHIC IN FICALIA'S PAYROLL -------------- ¶2. (C) Semana Magazine reported on September 11 that a psychic was working in the Fiscalia and had an all-access pass, armored car, and bodyguards. The psychic, Armando Marti, had apparently prepared a report that revealed a serious rift between Deputy Fiscal Otalora and the National Director of Prosecutors, abuse of telephone intercepts to develop negative information on officials within and outside the Fiscalia, allegations of the Deputy Fiscal's involvement in corruption, and serious irregularities in the work of the Secretary General. SIPDIS -------------- -- NEGATIVE REACTION UNDERMINES FISCAL'S AUTHORITY -------------- -- ¶3. (C) Inspector General (Procurador) Edgardo Maya told us on September 18 the information about the psychic and the internal rifts within the Fiscalia had severely harmed the institution as well as Iguaran's credibility. He said it would be harder for Iguaran to take principled decisions on high profile cases such as Jamundi, since his independence and credibility were in question. Press comments emphasized the damage the story had done to Iguaran's reputation and said Iguaran would suffer from a perception he was a weak and ineffective manager. -------------- FISCAL IGUARAN APOLOGIZES -------------- ¶4. (C) Iguaran apologized to the nation a week after the psychic story broke, claiming he had mistakenly trusted the persons around him. They had abused his confidence and had misled him. Iguaran voiced concern there was a conspiracy against him within the Fiscalia. He promised to take responsibility for his mistakes, acknowledged the need for changes, and alluded to shifts at the senior level. -------------- CORRUPTION ALLEGATIONS BREWING -------------- ¶5. (C) Psychic Marti accused Deputy Fiscal Otalora of leaking the information to the press to cover up Otalora's own corruption; Marti implied his report had addressed Otalora's role in illegal activities. Marti said he had reportedly warned Iguaran of multiple corruption allegations against Otalora. Otalora denied Marti's accusations and claimed he was unaware of the psychic's work in the Fiscalia. Iguaran has not addressed Otalora' role in the scandal. DRUCKER