2024-03-15 03:53:24
Following a decision by the Council of State in favor of the former mayor of Bucaramanga, Rodolfo Hernández Suárez, the leader of the League of Anti-Corruption Rulers has announced his intention to sue the Nation.
The Council of State issued a new judicial order in which it states that the Attorney General’s Office lacks the authority to suspend or disqualify officials elected by popular vote, based on the provisions of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IDH Court).
This decision originated from a lawsuit for annulment and restoration of the right filed by the former mayor of Bucaramanga against an eight-month suspension imposed on him by the Public Prosecutor’s Office after an incident with a city councilman.
In the first instance, the Administrative Court of Santander denied the claims, arguing that the case Petro Urrego vs. Colombia, resolved by the Inter-American Court, was not binding and that the Constitutional Court ratified the powers of the Public Ministry in similar cases.
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However, in the second instance, the Council of State revoked this determination. He maintained that, in accordance with the jurisprudence of the American Convention on Human Rights, the Attorney General’s Office can investigate and prosecute popularly elected officials, as long as it does not imply the restriction of their political rights.
Consequently, the court determined that more than 95 million pesos must be reimbursed to former Mayor Hernández, if he had paid them as part of the sanction imposed.
“I will sue the Nation and I will repeat against the prosecutor’s office officials who, in alliance with the politicians, sought to remove me in the last elections. Let them pay for the scams out of their pockets. Every peso collected will be delivered to non-profit causes in Santander,” said Rodolfo Hernández.
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