Nicolás Petro does not accept charges for money laundering in Colombia

Nicholas Petroson of the president of Colombia, Gustavo Petrodid not accept this Tuesday the charges of money laundering and illicit enrichment that he was accused of after his capture on Saturday.

“Your Honor, I do not accept the charges”, said the 37-year-old politician, after a presentation by the prosecutor Mario Burgos who accused the president’s eldest son of receiving money from a convicted drug trafficker, in a scandal that dotted the presidential campaign.

LOOK HERE: What is Nicolás Petro, the son of the president of Colombia who was arrested, accused of and how can it affect the Government?

In the hearing broadcast live by the prosecution, Burgos accused Petro for allegedly “acquire, invest, hide, conceal and give the appearance of legality“to money obtained irregularly, in addition to”increase unjustifiably” his “economic heritage”.

In a bunker of the prosecutor’s office in Bogotathe president’s son listened to him calmly wearing a sweater.

After an infidelity, the ex-wife of Nicholas Petro, daysuris vasquezaccused him of receiving large sums of cash, supposedly intended for the 2022 presidential campaign but which he actually used to give himself a life of luxury in the city of Barranquilla (north).

According to prosecutor Burgos, Petro received some 400 million pesos (almost 102,000 dollars at today’s exchange rates) from Samuel Santander Lopesierrawho served 18 years in prison for drug trafficking in USA.

He also pointed it out to receive the same number of hands from Alfonso “the Turk” Hilsacaa businessman accused in the past by the prosecution of financing paramilitary groups and planning murders.

The judicial process against Nicolás Petro begins on the eve of the celebration of his father’s first year in power, which is celebrated on August 7. The president promised in the campaign to end corruption and attack the finances of drug traffickers.

MORE INFORMATION: Nicolás Petro, son of the Colombian president, will plead not guilty and argue that he should not have been arrested

On Saturday, after the arrest of his son in a police mega-operation, Petro, assured that he will guarantee the independence of justice.

“Where from?”

According to Burgos, Nicolás Petro received other “large sums of money” of businessmen in Bogotá, although he did not detail the figures or names.

On the other hand, if he broke down other movements of the eldest of the six children of the president, elected in 2020 as a deputy for the department of the Atlantic.

The prosecutor assured that the millions supposedly earmarked for the presidential race of Gustavo Petro They were used to buy a mansion of 1,600 million pesos (almost USD 408,000) in Barranquilla.

He also pointed out inconsistencies in his income statements and his bank movements.

For example, in 2022 he received 251.4 million (USD 64,000) for his work as a deputy, but he allegedly spent 1,600 (about 408,000 dollars).

ALSO SEE: Defense of Gustavo Petro’s son denounces irregularities in his capture and that they recorded him naked

“Where does that money come from to your coffers?”, questioned the prosecutor. The defendant took notes with a pen.

Daysuris Vásquez also did not accept the charges for money laundering and violation of personal data. According to the prosecution, he used illegal interceptions to discover the infidelity of his ex-partner.

The penalty for money laundering and illicit enrichment is about 12 years in prison, according to Burgos.

Source: Elcomercio

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I am Jack Morton and I work in 24 News Recorder. I mostly cover world news and I have also authored 24 news recorder. I find this work highly interesting and it allows me to keep up with current events happening around the world.