Reply #16: "...48,055 files...had either been created, accessed, modified or deleted..."

[Peace Patriot]

"Using their forensic tools, they (the Interpol experts) found a total of 48,055 files for which the timestamps indicated that they had either been created, accessed, modified or deleted as a result of the direct access to the eight seized exhibits by Colombian authorities between the time of their seizure on 1 March 2008 and 3 March 2008 at 11:45 a.m.

"The actual seizure of the eight computer exhibits occurred between 5:50 a.m. and 7:50 a.m. (local time at the place of seizure, GMT -5:00) on Saturday, 1 March. However, it was not until more than 48 hours later that the eight seized exhibits were given to the computer forensic specialists of the Colombian Judicial Police," the report goes on to say.

"Access to the data contained in the eight FARC computer exhibits between 1 March 2008, when they were seized by Colombian authorities, and 3 March 2008 at 11:45 a.m., when they were turned over to…the Colombian Judicial Police, did not conform to internationally recognised principles for handling electronic evidence by law enforcement.

"When law enforcement directly accesses seized electronic evidence without first making physical images of the data, such access leaves traces of the relevant law enforcement officer’s accessing and viewing of the evidence.

"Direct access may complicate validating this evidence for purposes of its introduction in a judicial proceeding, because law enforcement is then required to demonstrate or prove that the direct access did not have a material impact on the purpose for which the evidence is intended," the report adds.

(MORE)

http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=42391

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"...48,055 files...created, accessed, modified or deleted..."

Tell me why any files in these computers would be deleted. Therein may lay the key to this bullshit--IF the computers in fact belonged to Raul Reyes. What did Reyes know about Uribe (the Medellin Cartel's go-to guy, in his early career) and his death squad pals? Is it a mere coincidence that, just before this Interpol report was released (with another, "confidential" report for the Colombia government's eyes only, by the way), Uribe extradites a number of his righwing paramilitary accusers to the U.S.--and the Bush Dept. of Justice--on drug trafficking charges (a move to shut them up?)? Prosecutors in Colombia are investigating Uribe on death squad/drug trafficking charges, and over 50 of his political cohorts are under investigation, indicted or in jail for such crimes.

DELETED files. Why? Was there content in the computers that Uribe did not want Interpol (or anyone else) to know?

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On another point, this Interpol report has NOTHING WHATEVER to do with the CONTENT of the computer files. They used non-Spanish speakers for the examination!

"...the commission was made up of forensic experts from Australia and Singapore who do not speak or read Spanish, 'which helped to eliminate the possibility that they might be influenced by the content of any data they were examining,' according to the report."

http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=42391

Of course, that is if you believe this Interpol statement--that they didn't look at the content. They're SPIES, for crissakes. There may be reasons why they were so careful to use non-Spanish speakers --so the actual examiners couldn't make sense of what was created or modified or the CONTEXT of deletions. Another reason could be so that Interpol has deniability about content that indicts Uribe or the corrupt, murderous, drug trafficking people he runs with. Surely Raul Reyes would have had some info and opinions about his criminal adversaries in the Colombian government and military.