BOGOTA (Reuters) – The eldest son of Colombian President Gustavo Petro, Nicolas Petro, on Tuesday entered a plea of not guilty to charges of money laundering and illicit enrichment at a court in Bogota, the capital.
Nicolas Petro and his ex-wife, Daysuris del Carmen Vasquez, were arrested on Saturday in the city of Barranquilla. Vasquez had previously been quoted in local press in March stating that two individuals accused of having ties to drug trafficking had provided cash to her former spouse to support the president’s election campaign.
Vasquez claimed that President Petro was not aware of these transactions. However, the case has become a scandal that threatens to disrupt the Petro administration’s pursuit of peace and surrender agreements with armed groups, as well as its ambitious reform agenda.
According to the charges, Nicolas Petro, who is a lawmaker in Atlantico province, allegedly received money from accused drug traffickers in exchange for their inclusion in the president’s peace plans.
“Your honor, I do not accept the charges,” Nicolas Petro declared during the hearing.
By denying the charges, Nicolas Petro has forfeited the opportunity to secure a 50% reduction in any potential sentence if he is ultimately convicted.
Legal experts have stated that if found guilty during a trial, the president’s son could face a sentence ranging from 12 to 20 years.
Vasquez has also denied the charges of money laundering and violating data protection laws.
(Reporting by Luis Jaime Acosta; Writing by Oliver Griffin; Editing by Leslie Adler)
Credit: The Star : News Feed
