Colombian congressmen investigated for paramilitary link
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Aubine [2011-05-20]
Colombia's Supreme Court of Justice (CSJC) is investigating 37 congressmen for alleged links to paramilitary groups, judicial sources said Thursday.
The CSJC's judges are examining evidence to decide whether the legislators did business with members of Colombia's Self-defense Units (AUC). The sources also said the judges had this week moved to speed up the investigations.
AUC members were demobilized in a deal with the government under the "Justice and Peace Law" and were given lower sentences for their alleged crimes.
Para-politics scandals surged during the demobilization process, revealing links between public servants and the AUC.
Fourteen congressmen remain imprisoned, including Alvaro Araujo, brother of former Foreign Affairs minister Consuelo Araujo.
On Wednesday, the court called senator Mario Uribe to be questioned over alleged meetings with paramilitaries to obtain political and real estate benefits.