Colombia President's Son, Nicolas Petro, To Stand on Trial Over Money Laundering

Nicolas Petro, Colombia's President Gustavo Petro son, is set to stand trial on charges of illicit enrichment and money laundering stemming from his political activities in the province of Atlantico.

This announcement came from the attorney general's office on Monday, according to Reuters.

An official indictment against Petro was filed in the Criminal Courts of the Specialized Circuit of Barranquilla, as the attorney general's office conveyed in a statement.

Nicolas Petro, the son of President Gustavo Petro, had been taken into custody in Barraquilla, the capital of Atlantico, back in July.

His ex-wife, Daysuris del Carmen Vasquez, who faces similar allegations, was arrested then.

During a hearing in August, Nicolas Petro pleaded not guilty but expressed his willingness to cooperate with the prosecutors.

He is accused of purchasing properties valued at $394,000 using funds not part of his official salary.

Nicolas Petro had previously negotiated a deal with prosecutors, potentially allowing him to receive reduced sentences or house arrest.

However, this agreement fell apart after he missed a deadline to provide information and evidence implicating others, according to the attorney general's office.

The statement additionally noted that the court would appoint a judge to oversee the case later.

Colombia President Gustavo Petro Denies Knowledge of Alleged Money Laundering

President Gustavo Petro, who had consistently denied knowledge of illicit activities, reaffirmed his commitment to pursuing his administration's policy agenda.

He expressed his distress at his child's imprisonment but clarified that he would not interfere with the ongoing investigation, per the Latin Times.

In a social media post, he conveyed, "To my son, I wish luck and strength. May these occurrences forge his character and lead to self-reflection about his actions. As I assured the attorney general, I will not interfere or exert pressure on his decisions. Let the law independently guide the process."

Nevertheless, he did attempt to broker a deal to secure a more lenient punishment, which ultimately was rejected by the Attorney General's Office.

Nicolas Petro Money Laundering Case

Colombia authorities first learned of Nicolas Petro's alleged wrongdoing after Daysuris del Carmen Vasquez revealed incriminating details in an interview with the local news magazine Semana, the Daily Mail noted.

Vasquez acknowledged being present during meetings where her former husband received $150,000 from Samuel 'The Marlboro Man' Santander, a former politician who had served 18 years of a 25-year prison sentence in the United States for drug trafficking.

She also recalled Nicolas Petro accepting $103,000 from Alfonso 'Turco' Hilsaca, a Cartagena businessman with ties to Los Rastrojos, a drug cartel and paramilitary group, and funds from óscar Camacho, a well-known businessman from Cúcuta.

According to Vasquez, Nicolas Petro used the money for various purchases, including a mansion, a condominium, and a Mercedes Benz SUV.

She discovered his intentions when she had issues with her vehicle, and Nicolas Petro texted her, saying, "I am not going to buy another car because we are going to use that money to buy a house."

While the couple had signed a promise-to-purchase contract and put down 60 percent of the home's value, Vasquez eventually opted out of the deal for "obvious reasons."

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

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