Colombian Officials Charged in Vote-Buying Scandal

Colombian prosecutors have charged two former high-ranking officials from President Gustavo Petro’s government with corruption, alleging they were involved in a vote-buying scheme in Congress. The former Finance Minister, Ricardo Bonilla, and former Interior Minister, Luis Fernando Velasco, are accused of directing public funds towards companies connected to members of Congress in exchange for favorable votes on key legislation. Both former ministers face charges of criminal association, bribery, and undue conflict of interest in contracting, with potential prison sentences of up to twenty-seven years if convicted. President Petro has described the legal proceedings as an attempt to destabilize his government. The Daily News Now! — Every city. Every story. AI-powered. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.