The disciplinary process against the prosecutor investigating the eldest son of the president of Colombia advanced on Friday with the formulation of charges for allegedly allowing videos to be leaked to the press and having exerted “undue pressure” during the interrogation so that Nicolás Petro Burgos would testify in against his family, among them, against the president.
The videos that were leaked to the press on September 30, 2023 correspond to a statement given by Nicolás Petro Burgos, the president’s eldest son, before the prosecutor’s office for the alleged irregular financing in the 2022 presidential campaign with which Gustavo Petro came to office. can.
In the video of the interrogation, Petro Burgos assures that his father had “full knowledge” of the entry of money of dubious origin to his campaign in the Caribbean.
The National Judicial Disciplinary Commission, the highest disciplinary authority of the judicial branch, indicated in a statement that prosecutor Mario Burgos Patiño allegedly put undue pressure during the interrogation of the president’s son to “make him testify against his family and thereby obtain benefits.” ”.
Petro Burgos faces criminal proceedings for alleged illicit enrichment and money laundering, a case for which he was called to trial. Although at first he agreed to collaborate with the prosecution, he later desisted and reported pressure to “turn me into a weapon against my father.”
As a result of the statements made by Petro’s son, Congress opened an investigation against the president of Colombia for alleged irregularities in his campaign, which is still in the stage of collecting testimonies. The impeachment process, if completed, would ultimately result in presidential removal.
Prosecutor Burgos Patiño faces a disciplinary process for offenses related to public service or function which, if found responsible, could mean the loss of his position. After formulating charges, the highest disciplinary authority will conduct tests to make a substantive decision.
“It is clear that the complaints regarding the case involving citizen Nicolás Petro are of the greatest seriousness. In that order of ideas, the country must know the whole truth and justice must be administered in light of the rules,” said the National Commission for Judicial Discipline in a statement.
Petro Burgos’ lawyer, Ricardo Gaviria Ramírez, welcomed the Commission’s decision to advance the process and indicated that he will now request that the prosecutor be recused in the process, which means that he could be removed from it if a judge accepts it. .
