(4 Jun 1996) Spanish/Nat
The Colombian House of Representatives is deciding whether there is sufficient proof that President Ernesto Samper financed his 1994 campaign with drug money.
A yes vote by the legislature would send the case to the Senate, automatically forcing Samper to step down while the upper house decides whether to impeach him.
Samper's lawyer, however contends the process has been plagued by irregularities.
The decision by Colombia's lower chamber of Congress could affect the President's chances of hanging on to power.
Legislators are considering whether he was aware his presidential campaign took six million dollars from the Cali drug cartel, which dominates the world cocaine market.
Samper has steadfastly denied any wrongdoing in the midst of continuous demands for his resignation.
And now his lawyer thinks he has legal ammunition to shoot back.
SOUNDBITE: (Spanish)
The office of the investigator general has had to acknowledge a 1.4 million dollar accounting mistake. They are about to agree with my version of the accounting of the campaign funds. And they will as soon as they examine this matter more closely.
SUPER CAPTION: Luis Guillermo Nieto Roa, Samper's Lawyer
The prosecution initially claimed that Samper had received nearly $6 (m) million from the cartel. Now his lawyer is basing his defence on the prosecution's incompetence.
SOUNDBITE: (Spanish)
I believe it is very serious that the investigator general's most crucial piece of evidence on a case that directly involves the president of the republic is based on flawed versions and technical errors. This is the most sensitive trial in the country's history what we are talking about here.
SUPER CAPTION: Luis Guillermo Nieto Roa, Samper's Lawyer
Samper's lawyer went on to slam the U-S for supposedly leaning on the Colombian Congress to reach a guilty verdict.
SOUNDBITE:
The US is becoming ever more explicit on its opinions about the Colombian president. At the beginning the US pressure on the Colombian congress was very subtle. But as the trial approaches and the prosecutor's accusations are crumbling, what the US is demonstrating is that what they want is the President's head whether there is evidence implicating Mr. Samper or not. That is why the US is applying pressure on the Colombian congress.
SUPER CAPTION: Luis Guillermo Nieto Roa, Samper's Lawyer
A congressional decision on Samper's fate is not expected for about a week.
It is widely believed that Congress, which is dominated by Samper's Liberal Party, will absolve the president.
Samper has brushed off past calls for his resignation from business, church, and opposition leaders, insisting he is innocent.
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