BOGOTA — The Colombian Congress heard new testimonies on Thursday within the framework of the investigation it is carrying out against President Gustavo Petro for alleged irregularities in the financing of the electoral campaign with which he won victory in 2022.
The legislative Commission of Investigation and Accusation, with judicial functions and in charge of dealing with complaints against the president and other authorized persons, heard key witnesses in confidential proceedings: the manager of the presidential campaign, Ricardo Roa, his auditor, María Lucy Soto, and Euclides Torres, a businessman who would have contributed money.
Although the content of the testimonies was not made public, Torres denied in a statement that he had contributed money to Petro’s presidential campaign and clarified that he “only” did so “with some logistical aspects long before he was even a candidate,” without specify what they consisted of.
“The statements made by the aforementioned witnesses will be formally incorporated into the file in which the legality and regularity of the presidential campaign expenses are studied,” the three House representatives who serve as investigators of the case indicated in a statement.
Petro’s family ties are also investigated
The Commission of Congressmen is investigating the president following the revelations that arose around his eldest son, Nicolás Petro Burgos, about alleged irregular campaign contributions. Petro Burgos was called to trial by the prosecution for the alleged crimes of illicit enrichment and money laundering.
The investigators added that they will hear in future proceedings from more witnesses such as Samuel Santander Lopesierra, who served a sentence for drug trafficking in the United States, and Alfonso del Cristo Hilsaca, a businessman from the north of the country who has had justice questions but has not been convicted. .
Petro Burgos is being investigated for allegedly receiving thousands of dollars from Lopesierra and Hilsaca in an “unjustified manner” to increase his financial assets, according to the prosecutor’s office.
The congressmen who make up the Commission must then decide whether to file the case or whether to present a draft impeachment against the president before the plenary session of the House of Representatives. There the accusation would be studied and, if approved in plenary session, it would be transferred to the Senate which would be in charge of prosecuting it.
That impeachment process, if completed, would ultimately result in presidential removal.
Source: AP
