2023-08-04 02:59:00
Nicholas Petroson of the president of Colombia, admitted that the money of a convicted drug trafficker entered the presidential campaign of Gustavo Petro, in the middle of a process of collaboration with the prosecutor’s office that accuses him of money laundering.
The eldest of Petro’s six children is accused of “acquiring, investing, hiding, covering up and give the appearance of legality” to money obtained irregularlyin addition to “increase unjustifiably” your assets.
Nicolás “received large sums of money from Mr. Samuel Santander Lopesierraknown as the Marlboro Man” and extradited by drug trafficking to the United States in 2003, said the prosecutor in the case, Mario Burgos, during a court hearing on Thursday.
“It hurts me a lot”: Gustavo Petro’s son was arrested for illicit enrichment
“Part of these moneys were used by Mr. Nicolás Fernando Petro himself and another part of these were invested in the 2022 presidential campaign,” added Burgos.
According to the local press, during the break in the hearing, the president’s son learned of new evidence from the prosecution against him and changed his position. Burgos had offered him Accept your responsibility to receive a reduction of 50% of the possible sentence.
Nicolás was deprived of his liberty in a prosecutor’s bunker, but from now on he will be under house arrestBurgos announced. “It is not expected that he could obstruct Justice, especially when he has waived his rights and has indicated that he is willing to provide all the relevant evidence,” explained the prosecutor.
Gustavo Petro with Nicolás, the eldest of his six children
Captured since last Saturday, the 37-year-old politician initially rejected the accusations made against him by the investigative body, but changed his tone shortly after and assured that decided to “start a collaboration process”.
“I will refer to new facts and situations that will help Justice,” Nicolás Petro announced then. Meanwhile, the president keeps his distance.
The accusation of Petro’s ex-partner
after a infidelityNicolás Petro’s ex-wife, Daysuris Vásquez, accused him of receiving large sums of cash, supposedly intended for the 2022 presidential campaign, but which he actually used to “lead a life of luxury“in the city of Barranquilla.
The woman, who was also detainedwill continue to be linked to the process, but will defend itself in freedom. During the hearing, she smiled with Petro, who expecting a child with another woman.
First big crisis for Petro
As part of his collaboration agreement with Justice, Nicolás promised to resign from his position as deputy from the department of Atlántico, where he was key in his father’s aspirations. The Caribbean region, historically reluctant to the left, catapulted Petro to the presidency in the 2022 elections.
According to prosecutor Burgos, Lopesierra gave Nicolás Petro some 400 million pesos (almost $102,000 at today’s exchange rate). Besides, Alfonso “El Turco” Hilsacaa businessman accused in the past by the prosecution of financing paramilitary groups and planning homicides, would have given him the same amount, according to the prosecutor.
Petro assured that he will guarantee the independence of Justice
The judicial process against Nicolás Petro begins on the eve of the celebration of the his father’s first year in power, which is fulfilled on August 7. On Saturday, after the arrest of his son in a police mega-operation, Gustavo Petro assured that he will guarantee the independence of Justice.
He also published on Twitter: “My son Nicolás and his ex-wife Days have been captured by the prosecutor’s office. As a person and father It hurts a lot so much self-destruction and that one of my children goes to jail; as President of the Republic I assure that the Prosecutor’s Office has all the guarantees on my part to proceed according to the law”.
“I wish my son luck and strength. May these events forge his character and may he reflect on his own mistakes. As I stated before the attorney general, I will not intervene or pressure his decisions; let the law freely guide the processPetro added.
Nicolás Petro and his ex-partner were arrested simultaneously on July 29
For his part, the former ambassador of Colombia in Venezuela, Armando Benedetti, had already threatened to reveal alleged irregularities in the financing of Petro’s presidential campaign in the Caribbean departments.
In conversations leaked by the press with the former right hand of the president, Laura SarabiaBenedetti hints at a supposed involvement of Nicolás Petro: “I have some indications about Nicolás. I have always had very serious indications of what was happening,” Benedetti had declared to the magazine Week begining of June.
On July 18, Laura Sarabia appeared before the National Electoral Council and denied having knowledge about the money from the campaign, while Benedetti has not appeared before that entity, despite having been summoned.
ML / Gi
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