Ex-Secret Police head jailed for 14 years for spying on politicians, others

Maria del Pilar Hurtado, the former head of Colombia's secret police has been jailed for 14 years for spying on politicians, judges and journalists.

She was convicted of intercepting phone calls,  targeting political opponents of Alvaro Uribe, who was president at the time. She was also convicted of abusing public office.

However, Uribe who is now a senator and the head of a right-wing opposition party has denied any knowledge of the illegal intercepts.

The 51-year-old Hurtado was in charge of the now-defunct Administrative Security Department (DAS), when the offences occurred between 2007 and 2008.

BBC reports that Uribe's former chief of staff, Bernardo Moreno, was also given an eight year sentence for his involvement, it will be served at his home.

Hurtado fled Colombia to Panama where she was granted asylum in 2010, after Uribe left office and the allegations were made public.

She however turned herself over to the authorities in January after the asylum grant was revoked.