After the murder of Jaime Garzón, journalist Claudia Julieta Duque began an investigation in which she revealed the involvement of members of the now-defunct Administrative Department of Security (DAS) in the homicide of the Colombian comedian. However, the publication of this information caused Claudia Julieta around two decades of harassment and psychological torture.
Between 2001 and 2004, the journalist received death threats and was also illegally pursued and investigated. In 2011, the Attorney General’s Office opened a case to identify those responsible for the harassment that Claudia Julieta was receiving due to her profession. And, although six convictions have been issued during this investigation, this Friday afternoon the sentence was issued against the most important figure in this criminal network.
After more than two decades of harassment, the former deputy director of the DAS, José Miguel Narváez Martínez, was sentenced to 150 months in prison, that is, 12 years and 5 months of jail time, for the psychological torture he subjected Claudia Julieta to. Narváez must also pay a fine of 1,200 SMLMV, which represents 1.56 billion pesos, and indemnify Claudia Julieta with more than 126 million for the damages caused to the journalist.
What does the sentence issued against the former deputy director of DAS say?
In addition to acknowledging Narváez’s responsibility in the intimidation that Claudia Julieta suffered, the 10th Specialized Criminal Court of Bogotá explained that Narváez will be disqualified from holding public office for the duration of his prison sentence and, furthermore, copies were sent to investigate former President Álvaro Uribe Vélez in the Commission of Accusations of the House of Representatives for this same case, as the events would have occurred during his time in the Casa de Nariño.
“Reiterate the order issued by the Ninth Prosecutor’s Office of the Analysis and Context Unit in the section of other determinations of the Accusation Resolution of September 29, 2014, in which it was ordered to send copies of this action to the Commission of Accusation of the House of Representatives, in order to determine whether there was merit to investigate former President Álvaro Uribe Vélez for the facts subject to this process,” the document reads.
What was the journalist’s reaction?
Although this is the seventh conviction issued in this case, Claudia Julieta celebrated Narváez’s conviction and thanked the determination and strength of her lawyer, Dora Lucy Arias. Simultaneously, the journalist dedicated this judicial victory to her daughter, who has accompanied her in this struggle that she described as “unjust and eternal.”
“I am crying, I have not yet read the sentence, but without a doubt this is the greatest act of justice that my family and I have achieved. Copies are also being sent to investigate other officials who, according to the evidence, had responsibility in the acts of torture.”
Follow the Diario AS channel on WhatsApp, where you will find all sports in one place: the current day’s news, the agenda with the latest updates on the most important sporting events, the most outstanding images, opinions from the best AS contributors, reports, videos, and some humor from time to time.