The Supreme Court of Justice of Colombia announced accusations against Congressman Modesto Aguilera Vides, a member of the Cambio Radical party, for accusations of a violent sexual act, setting a significant precedent in the country. The decision, which stands out for its importance, was made public on April 30 and accuses him of being the alleged perpetrator of this crime. Despite the seriousness of the allegations, it has been confirmed that he will maintain his freedom during the trial process.
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The accusation arises from a complaint filed by Gisella del Carmen Mejía, a young woman from Barranquilla, in March 2022. Mejía accuses Aguilera of sexually abusing her at an event in 2020, a fact that the politician has emphatically denied. “Sometimes I question whether I should have reported, but I don’t do it for myself but for many women who, suddenly, have gone through the same thing,” said Mejía, highlighting the difficult path that victims of abuse face when filing complaints.
The alleged sexual assault occurred at the VallClaire Suites in Barranquilla, when Mejía was invited to a political meeting organized by Aguilera in October 2020. According to Mejía, what promised to be a discussion about political strategies and visions quickly turned into a nightmare. “My body didn’t give me enough to scream… I felt harassed, violated and humiliated,” Mejía said about the incident. She was left alone with Aguilera in her room after her cousin and his girlfriend, who had accompanied her, left her under the pretext of looking for other attendees.
Magazine Change was the first to reveal Aguilera’s file before the Supreme Court and to present the exclusive testimony of the complainant in March of this year. This testimony highlights the difficulties victims face in coming forward and challenging powerful figures in society.
The Supreme Court of Justice recently resolved a case that uncovered a plot of power, abuse and manipulation behind the complaints filed by Mejía, who accused Modesto Aguilera and his entourage of improper conduct. After analyzing Guisella Mejía’s video testimony, as well as her subsequent statements, the court found consistency and coherence in her words, ruling out the possibility of unfounded accusations against Aguilera. “[El testimonio] “There are no reasons for the alleged victim to accuse him ‘for free’ of such serious accusations,” was extracted from one of the Supreme Court documents.
The case highlights an unequal power relationship between Aguilera, a congressman, Guisella Mejía and her family, a circumstance that, according to the Court’s analysis, explains the complainant’s initial reluctance to proceed with the complaints. As it was revealed, both her mother and her brother had obtained employment thanks to Aguilera and her partner Torregrosa, thus establishing their total dependence on the income generated by these jobs to support her family economy. “This is for the Chamber, consistent with the asymmetrical situation of power envisioned, the manifest superiority is expressed around several components, namely: the age between the alleged victim and the alleged aggressor,” the court noted in its documents.
Additionally, the investigation delved into the defense’s efforts to discredit the accusations, arguing that neither Aguilera nor Torregrosa had direct influence on appointments within the Barranquilla district or its surrounding areas. However, telephone interceptions ordered by the Supreme Court contradicted these arguments, bringing to light an alleged plan that sought to violate Mejía’s privacy. “Telephone interceptions ordered by the Supreme Court” put the defense strategy of the accused in check, revealing one more layer in this complex case.
The story began when Mejía tried to contact his cousin after finding himself in a compromising situation, without receiving a response. After running out of resources to return to her house, she decided to return and tell her mother about her events, asking her not to let her return to similar events unaccompanied. This request was catalyzed by an uncomfortable encounter in which Torregrosa, in the presence of Aguilera, made derogatory comments towards her, evidencing a clear lack of respect and consideration.
“The other woman in the vehicle, Torregrosa’s girlfriend, did not remain silent. She told Gisella Mejía: ‘you are stupid,’ “reflects the contempt and trivialization of the seriousness of the matter by those close to Aguilera. Details like this plunged Mejía into greater vulnerability, facing not only pressure from her attacker and her close circle but also the economic and emotional insecurity caused by the possible loss of her family’s livelihood.
