Updated

A judge in Colombia has issued an arrest order for the former head of the South American country's secret police over her alleged involvement in a domestic spying scandal.

Tuesday's order is aimed at former domestic intelligence chief Maria del Pilar Hurtado. She has been living in exile in Panama since November 2010. Hurtado maintains she is innocent.

The DAS agency led by Hurtado spied on judges, journalists and political opponents of Colombian President Alvaro Uribe, who left office last August. At least 20 former DAS officials have been jailed in the scandal.

The judge has denied a prosecution request to jail ex-Uribe aide Bernardo Moreno pending his trial in the case. Moreno remains in Colombia and says he is innocent.