Alberto Santofimio

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Alberto Santofimio Botero is a Colombian politician member of the Colombian Liberal Party.
He has been Minister of Justice, a two-time presidential candidate and a senator.
He was considered to be on close terms with famed drug lord, Pablo Escobar.

In the 90's, Santofimio was arrested and charged with receiving money from drug trafficking in order to support his campaign for the presidency of Colombia.
He was released after serving a short term prison sentence.

[edit] The Assassination of Luis Carlos Galán

During the investigations about the brutal assassination of Luis Carlos Galán, Santofimio was mentioned many times in reference to the planning of the crime.

On May 12, 2005, Santofimio was captured by the police for participating in the 1989 murder of ex-presidential candidate Luis Carlos Galán.

John Jairo Velásquez, alias "Popeye", one of Pablo Escobar's most trusted "henchmen" and head of the assassins of the Medellín Cartel, alleged that Santofimio was partly responsible for the planning of Galan's assassination. Velásquez also accused Santofimio of having participated in the attempted assassinations of César Gaviria and Andrés Pastrana Arango, and in the planning of the murder of Rodrigo Lara Bonilla (Minister of Justice in 1984).

On October 11th 2007 the court verdict for Santofimio was guilty as charged for his participation in the assassination of Galan, and he was sentenced to 24 years in prison. [1].

Also, Virginia Vallejo, Pablo Escobar's mistress once famous colombian TV broadcaster, has confirmed that Santofimio was the 'brain' behind Escobar's multiple murders.