US EditionColombian prosecutors charge 2 ex-Cabinet members of bribing lawmakers for their votes
Ex-ministers face charges including bribery and criminal association for funneling disaster-prevention agency funds to firms tied to lawmakers in a vote-buying scheme.
- On Monday prosecutors charged Ricardo Bonilla, former Finance Minister, and Luis Fernando Velasco, former Interior Minister, with criminal association, bribery, and face up to 27 years in prison.
- Investigators allege the two conspired with officials in two agencies to steer public funds toward companies linked to members of congress and their allies, securing votes for Petro-backed legislation including pension reform.
- Funds traced to the disaster-prevention agency show most were from the national disaster-prevention agency, whose former director faces charges, while prosecutors allege contracts rewarded companies linked to lawmakers for votes.
- Both ex-ministers have denied the allegations, with Bonilla saying at a Bogotá hearing, `I have the certainty that I have not committed any crime`, while President Gustavo Petro described the proceedings as an effort to destabilize his government.
- The 75-year-old economist Ricardo Bonilla, longtime Petro adviser, resigned last year amid related allegations as Colombian authorities have launched a spate of corruption proceedings.
21 Articles
21 Articles
Associated Press News
Colombian prosecutors charge 2 ex-Cabinet members of bribing lawmakers for their votes
Prosecutors in Colombia have charged two former members of President Gustavo Petro’s government with corruption for their alleged role in a congressional vote buying scheme.
Former officials are appointed to lead a network that directed public contracts to secure legislative majorities for the government of Gustavo Petro, in a case that already has two congressmen and a former presidential adviser behind bars
Reforma
eldiariodechihuahua.mxThe Colombian prosecutor imputes two former ministers of President Gustavo Petro for corruption.
The Attorney General's Office charged them with three crimes, pointed them out to lead a criminal network and asked for a house arrest measure against them.
Ex-ministers Bonilla and Velasco may face penalties for more than 12 years for scandal at the Ungrd Agencia Period... Lun, 01/12/2025 - 09:50 The prosecution's application before the Bogotá Superior Court seeks that former officials remain deprived of their liberty as the corruption process progresses.
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