In the morning hours of September 10, EL TIEMPO consulted with sources regarding the alleged acquisition of Pegasus software, during the government of Ivan Dukeas reported by the President Gustavo Petroin the speech of last September 7.
“In July-August 2021, before the campaigns and in the midst of the social unrest in Colombia, an Israeli bank filed an unusual report regarding a deposit of $5,500,000, the payment was related to an agreement for $11 million signed between NSO Group and the Colombian Police Intelligence Directorate.“, the president said at the time.
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The head of state, in fact, pointed out that this information came from a document obtained by the Financial Information and Analysis Unit (UIAF) in response to a request made to its counterpart in Switzerland and subsequently, requested by the Attorney General’s Officeaccording to the Investigative Unit of EL TIEMPO.
Under this line, Petro said that the 11 million dollars were taken to Israel in cash on a charter flight.
This information, in fact, coincides with that handled by the Israeli media ‘Haaretz’ in March of this year, which also indicates that the acquisition of said technological service was completed by 13 million dollars and that would have been paid with money seized from Colombian drug trafficking,
(Besides: Petro will seek to hire a ‘specialized’ service to detect Pegasus activity).
In fact, at the time, the Minister of Defense, Ivan Velasquezdenied this publication of the Israeli media, as well as the purchase of Pegasus. This government statement was given during a political control debate attended by the aforementioned head of the portfolio, on different topics related to the Public Force.
These contradictions on the subject become relevant in light of the responses sent by the Secretary of the Cabinet of the Ministry of Defense, Alexandra Paola González Zapata, to Diego Alejandro González, Secretary of the Second Commission of the Senate.
The Minister of Defense, Ivan Velasquez
Mauricio Moreno / THE TIME
Contradictions?
In a two-page letter, seen by EL TIEMPO, the Ministry of Defense was asked directly about the publication of ‘Haaretz’.
“1. Is it true that this negotiation was carried out and that the Pegasus software was acquired? Under what contracting rules? What was the payment method? What oversight body was in charge of the contract? Which institution of the Intelligence Community is in charge of this equipment? 2. Has Colombia acquired any equipment or software from the NSO Group?“.
(Further: Prosecutors open investigation into alleged purchase of Pegasus software).
In response to both paragraphs, the Government denies the acquisition of Pegasus.
“Regarding numerals one and two of the additive questionnaire to Proposition 12 of 2023, the Ministry of National Defense wishes to indicate that, according to information from the National Police and the Specialized Administrative and Accounting Intelligence Center (CENAC-Intelligence) of the National Army, no software corresponding to the Pegasus name has been acquired, nor has it obtained equipment or software from the company NSO Group.“.
Gustavo Petro
Presidency
In questions 3 and 4, the Ministry of Defense is asked how it carries out these intelligence activities.
“3. What software and equipment with the ability to intrude on telephones or computers does the intelligence community use for its activities? What processes for assessing the impact on rights do the Ministry of Defense or the institutions of the intelligence community use prior to acquiring this equipment? 4. What procedures do the entities that use these programs or equipment have to apply assessments of need, suitability and proportionality before their implementation in intelligence operations? Based on what standards or guidelines are these procedures carried out?“.
In its response, it states that the country’s intelligence agencies act in accordance with the law.
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“The Ministry of National Defense allows itself to indicate that military and police intelligence does not use software or equipment with the capacity to provide instruction in telephony or computing devices. Likewise, it indicates that the units and dependencies that develop the intelligence function permanently observe the legal mandate established by Statutory Law 1621 of 2023, which in its article 2 indicates that the intelligence function has as its main objective the protection of human rights, the prevention and combat against internal and external threats against the validity of the democratic regime, the constitutional and legal regime, security and National Defense, and to comply with the other purposes stated in the law and its Regulatory Decree 857 of 2014 (Legal Framework that allows agencies to carry out intelligence and counterintelligence activities in Colombia).“.
And he added: “Additionally, the application of this law is carried out in light of the criteria of interpretation established by judgment C 540-12 of July 12, 2012, through which the Constitutional Court declared this rule constitutional. Finally, regarding the acquisition of suitable equipment for the development of intelligence and counterintelligence activities, it is always carried out in compliance with the Political Constitution, the law on intelligence and counterintelligence, the laws on public procurement and other applicable regulations.“.
PORTFOLIO
*With information from the INVESTIGATIVE UNIT OF EL TIEMPO and EL TIEMPO – JUSTICE
