Colombia: President Gustavo Petro's Son Gets Conditional Freedom While Under Investigation

A Colombia judge issued an order for the release of President Gustavo Petro's son, Nicolas Petro, from detention Friday night, AP reports.

Nicolas Petro had been arrested earlier on Saturday and was subsequently charged with illicit enrichment and money laundering.

He decided to cooperate with the investigation and acknowledged that his father's 2022 election campaign received money of dubious origin.

Prosecutor Mario Andrés Burgos, overseeing the case, revealed that Nicolas Petro committed to providing audio recordings and documents to corroborate that some of the money he received was used to finance his father's candidacy.

While the Attorney General's Office presented evidence indicating that Nicolas Petro received money illicitly, the judge deemed that prosecutors had insufficient justification for keeping the president's son in detention or under house arrest.

As a result, the judge ordered his release, with the condition that he remains in Colombia and refrains from engaging in political activities.

Nicolas Petro, a legislator representing the northern coastal region of Atlántico, has expressed his intention to resign from his seat amid the ongoing investigation.

Nicolas Petro's Charges

The charges against Nicolas Petro allege that he received money from accused drug traffickers in exchange for including them in his father, President Gustavo Petro's, peace plans.

Nicolas Petro pleaded not guilty but expressed his willingness to cooperate with prosecutors. The allegations suggest that he used funds, not from his salary, to purchase properties valued at $394,000, according to Reuters.

By collaborating with prosecutors, Nicolas Petro may have the opportunity to reduce his potential sentence, which could range from 12 to 20 years in prison if he is found guilty.

Amid the scandal, his ex-wife, Daysuris del Carmen Vasquez, who is also facing charges of money laundering and violation of personal data, has been allowed to remain free.

Testimonies during the proceedings have revealed a complex web of passion, betrayal, and corruption, including infidelity within Nicolas Petro's marriage.

Meanwhile, President Gustavo Petro has distanced himself from any knowledge of illegal activities and expressed personal distress over allegations of campaign irregularities.

However, the scandal may have repercussions for his administration's policy plans, particularly regarding peace negotiations with armed groups and an ambitious reform agenda.

These policy initiatives are already facing challenges amid the government's prior congressional coalition breakdown.

Accusations Against Colombia President Son, Nicolas Petro

The accusations against Nicolas Petro first came to light in an interview conducted by his ex-wife, Daysuris "Day" Vasquez, with the news magazine Semana in March, per Al Jazeera.

In the interview, Vasquez accused the Colombian president's son of accepting donations for his father's presidential campaign from individuals with a questionable past, including Samuel Santander Lopesierra, a former senator and convicted drug trafficker who was extradited to the United States in 2003 but later returned to Colombia to resume his political career.

Vasquez claimed that the donations were made in cash, with Santander Lopesierra allegedly providing 600 million pesos ($144,810).

However, she asserted that the money did not go toward the presidential campaign but was kept by Nicolas Petro for his personal use, without his father's knowledge.

Following the interview's publication, Colombia's attorney general investigated the matter.

Subsequently, Vasquez was arrested and charged with the alleged money laundering scheme.

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This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

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