Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BOGOTA8623
2006-09-19 21:56:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bogota
Cable title:
PROSECUTOR GENERAL'S OFFICE UNDER SCRUTINY
how-toVZCZCXYZ0002 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHBO #8623 2622156 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 192156Z SEP 06 FM AMEMBASSY BOGOTA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8985 INFO RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 7112 RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 8182 RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ SEP LIMA 4236 RUEHZP/AMEMBASSY PANAMA 9517 RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO 4911 RUEHGL/AMCONSUL GUAYAQUIL 3689 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC RHEHOND/DIRONDCP WASHDC RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
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
-------
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
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