Colombia-Cartel Accountant
9-20-1995
^By ANDREW SELSKY=
^Associated Press Writer=
BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) _ It was a scene straight out of a Cold War thriller: A shadowy figure defects to the United States and spills his secrets to U.S. agents.
Only this time, the defector was not a Soviet spy. He was the accountant for the Cali drug cartel. And after arriving in Washington from Colombia, he went not to the CIA, but into the arms of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.
Guillermo Pallomari reportedly has secrets that could bring down Colombian President Ernesto Samper, accused of using millions of dollars from the Cali drug cartel _ the world's largest _ to win the presidency last year.
Hours after news of Pallomari's defection reached Colombia, officials in the United States reacted Wednesday as if they were sitting on a bomb.
A normally forthcoming U.S. law enforcement source said he could not discuss the case because it was too sensitive. State Department spokesman Nicholas Burns told reporters in Washington he could only confirm Pallomari had surrendered to U.S. officials.
"I've been asked to say very little about Mr. Pallomari," Burns said.
A check found in Pallomari's office in Cali earlier this year blew Colombia's "narcoscandal" wide open. The check for $48,000 had been made out to Samper's 1994 campaign treasurer by a Cali cartel front company. It was endorsed by campaign treasurer Santiago Medina and had been used by the campaign.
That check eventually led to the arrests of Medina, campaign director Fernando Botero and campaign executive director Juan Manuel Avella.
Now, Pallomari may be implicating Samper himself. Samper has repeatedly denied he knew of Cali cartel funding of his campaign, and has refused to resign.
A source close to the investigation said two Colombian prosecutors questioned Pallomari in the United States. The accountant has incriminating information on Samper and congressmen linked to the cartel, said the source, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Pallomari turned over accounting books to DEA officials, according to CMI, a TV news program. He was reported to be cooperating fully with U.S. investigators.
Authorities say Pallomari's wife, Patricia Cardona, disappeared from Cali last month and is feared dead. Pallomari, apparently suspecting the cartel ordered his wife's kidnapping or murder, fled to the United States.
If Pallomari confirms that the cartel funded Samper's election campaign and can back it up with documents, it puts the United States into an awkward position.
Initially suspicious that Samper might have accepted money from drug dealers, U.S. officials have applauded his success in combating the Cali cartel _ in less than two months, six cartel leaders surrendered or were arrested.
If Pallomari confirms that the cartel funded Samper's campaign, a 1992 congressional directive would force President Clinton to cut assistance to Colombia.
^By ANDREW SELSKY=
^Associated Press Writer=
BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) _ It was a scene straight out of a Cold War thriller: A shadowy figure defects to the United States and spills his secrets to U.S. agents.
Only this time, the defector was not a Soviet spy. He was the accountant for the Cali drug cartel. And after arriving in Washington from Colombia, he went not to the CIA, but into the arms of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.
Guillermo Pallomari reportedly has secrets that could bring down Colombian President Ernesto Samper, accused of using millions of dollars from the Cali drug cartel _ the world's largest _ to win the presidency last year.
Hours after news of Pallomari's defection reached Colombia, officials in the United States reacted Wednesday as if they were sitting on a bomb.
A normally forthcoming U.S. law enforcement source said he could not discuss the case because it was too sensitive. State Department spokesman Nicholas Burns told reporters in Washington he could only confirm Pallomari had surrendered to U.S. officials.
"I've been asked to say very little about Mr. Pallomari," Burns said.
A check found in Pallomari's office in Cali earlier this year blew Colombia's "narcoscandal" wide open. The check for $48,000 had been made out to Samper's 1994 campaign treasurer by a Cali cartel front company. It was endorsed by campaign treasurer Santiago Medina and had been used by the campaign.
That check eventually led to the arrests of Medina, campaign director Fernando Botero and campaign executive director Juan Manuel Avella.
Now, Pallomari may be implicating Samper himself. Samper has repeatedly denied he knew of Cali cartel funding of his campaign, and has refused to resign.
A source close to the investigation said two Colombian prosecutors questioned Pallomari in the United States. The accountant has incriminating information on Samper and congressmen linked to the cartel, said the source, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Pallomari turned over accounting books to DEA officials, according to CMI, a TV news program. He was reported to be cooperating fully with U.S. investigators.
Authorities say Pallomari's wife, Patricia Cardona, disappeared from Cali last month and is feared dead. Pallomari, apparently suspecting the cartel ordered his wife's kidnapping or murder, fled to the United States.
If Pallomari confirms that the cartel funded Samper's election campaign and can back it up with documents, it puts the United States into an awkward position.
Initially suspicious that Samper might have accepted money from drug dealers, U.S. officials have applauded his success in combating the Cali cartel _ in less than two months, six cartel leaders surrendered or were arrested.
If Pallomari confirms that the cartel funded Samper's campaign, a 1992 congressional directive would force President Clinton to cut assistance to Colombia.
Comments
Post a Comment