Luis Humberto Gómez Gallo

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Luis Humberto Gómez Gallo
Luis Humberto Gómez Gallo

In office
July 20, 1997 – July 20, 2010

Born June 26, 1962 (1962-06-26) (age 45)
Ibagué, Tolima
Colombia
Political party Conservative party
Spouse Carolina Penuela Ramirez
Children Camilo José, Juan Diego and Manuela Lucía
Residence Bogotá
Occupation Industrial engineer, politician

Luis Humberto Gómez Gallo (born June 26, 1962 in Ibagué, Tolima) is a Colombian politician, professional industrial engineer specialized in business administration and constitutional law. Since 1997 Gomez-Gallo has been serving as elected Senator of Colombia representing the Colombian Conservative Party. Since 2006 Gomez-Gallo is under investigation by the Colombian Supreme Court for his involvement in the Parapolitica scandal and a relationship to a known drug trafficker Eduardo Restrepo Victoria, alias "El Socio".[1] Related to this scandal he was arrested on October 10, 2007 in Bogotá.[2]

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[edit] Early years

Gomez-Gallo studied in the Colegio Tolimentse in Ibague, Tolima. He attended the Universidad Católica de Colombia in the Colombian capital city Bogotá graduating as Industrial engineer and did post graduate studies in business admnistration. He also did post graduate studies at the Universidad Externado de Colombia graduating in constiturional law.

[edit] Political career

Gomez-Gallo was appointed Secretary of Public Works for the Department of Tolima. In 1986 he ran for councilman for a seat in the Council of Ibague for which he was elected for the period 1986-1992 representing the Colombian Conservative Party.

[edit] Senator of Colombia (1997- Present)

In 1994 Gomez-Gallo ran for congress and was elected senator of Colombia. He was then reelected for the 1998, 2002 and 2006 period. He was president of the senate and President of the Congress of Colombia for the period between July 20, 2004 and July 20, 2005. He was married to Zulema Jattin Corrales.

As senator Gomez-Gallo was President of the First Commission of Congress from July 20, 2003 to July 20, 2004 which debates topics related to Constitutional matters. He was also Vice President for this same commission for two consecutive periods.

[edit] Parapolitica scandal

See also: Parapolitica scandal

Gómez Gallo is currently under investigation by the Supreme Court of Colombia after being involved in the Parapolitica scandal in which politicians mingled with paramilitary groups to coerce voters in their favor. He is also investigated for his relationship to drug trafficker Eduardo Restrepo Victoria, alias "El Socio".[3]

On October 10, 2007 units of the Attorney General of Colombia arrested Gomez Gallo in Bogota after the President of the Penal Chamber of the Supreme Court of Colombia issued an arrest warrant against him. This after a paramilitary under investigation named José Wilton Bedoya Rayo, alias 'Moisés', from the Tolima Bloc of the demobilized United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia accused him of being involved in the assassination of congressman Pompilio de Jesús Avendaño in 2001. According to the paramilitary member Gomez Gallo paid COP$300 million pesos for the assassination.[4]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

Preceded by
Germán Vargas Lleras
President of the Congress of Colombia
President of the Senate of Colombia

July 20, 2004
July 20, 2005
Succeeded by
Claudia Blum
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