Colombian Interior Minister Cleared of Corruption Rumors

Colombian Minister of the Interior, Luis Fernando Velasco, has been cleared of rumors implicating him in an alleged corruption scheme related to the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD).

The case involves embezzlment through the purchase of water tankers in the La Guajira Department at exorbitant prices. There are suspicions that the misappropriated funds might have been used to pay bribes to politicians in order to expedite the processing of certain reforms promoted by the government.

Last Friday, local outlets alleged that the minister was part of the scheme, claiming that his name was mentioned in a testimony submitted to the Attorney General Office. This week, however, Gustavo Moreno, the lawyer of Sneyder Pinilla (former deputy director of the UNGRD and main suspect in the case), has clarified that Minister Velasco had not been cited in his client’s declaration.

Interior Minister cleared in alleged corruption scheme

In statements to W Radio, Gustavo Moreno revealed that his client had named several high-ranking officials as being part of the alleged UNGRD corruption scheme, including Sandra Ortiz, Councilor for the Regions, along with Ivan Name and Andres Calle, the presidents of the Senate and House of Representatives, respectively.

President Gustavo Petro demanded the immediate resignation of Ortiz from her responsibility in the government. “Officials who come to steal will leave,” said the head of state in a statement regarding the matter.

Sneyder Pinilla, in a collaborative strategy with the justice system, stated his willingness to reveal the truth about the purchase of water tanks for La Guajira Department, which ultimately led to cost overruns.

Pinilla stated that the funds may have been used to bribe the presidents of the congressional chambers to expedite the processing of government laws. Sandra Ortiz is alleged to have been the intermediary between Pinilla and Ivan Name for this money transfer.

Luis Fernando Velasco defends his innocence

Minister Velasco addressed, for the first time, the attempts to link him to the corruption scheme. “I perceive a judicial strategy that will likely struggle to succeed in my case, as I can demonstrate that their allegations are false,” stated the Interior Minister. Velasco also noted that “it is not the first time a criminal, to gain an advantage, self-incriminates and attempts to implicate others.”

Regarding the meetings mentioned in the accusations, Velasco affirmed that his interactions have been public and that he has not engaged in private meetings. Regarding Olmedo Lopez, the now-dismissed director of the UNGRD, he noted that he had consulted him, stating, “I informed him about the main issues of Risk Management, and all those meetings were attended by other participants.”

He also denied seeing any evidence of monetary transactions to officials. “When Dr. Sandra Ortiz spoke about the Green Party, I never saw anything that would lead me to think that money was being given to someone.” Moreover, he insisted that these accusations “must be supported by substantial evidence, because they involve serious allegations.”

Various congressmen implicated in corruption scheme

So far, only one government official allegedly involved in the case, Sandra Ortiz, has resigned, which was a direct result of the president’s request. On the other hand, another implicated individual, Andrés Idarraga, Secretary of Transparency of the Presidency, was reaffirmed in his position by President Petro.

However, the allegations made by former deputy director of the UNGRD Sneyder Pinilla involve up to fifteen congressmen, among them the presidents of both chambers of Congress.

According to Pinilla’s testimony, the presidents of the House and Senate allegedly received one million dollars (four billion COP) from a contract for the acquisition of forty water trucks intended to supply water to La Guajira. The contract, worth US$12 million (46.8 billion COP), has come under scrutiny because the fleet of trucks was not fit for its intended purpose.