By Luis Jaime Acosta and Carlos Vargas
BOGOTA (Reuters) -Two out of 9 magistrates in Colombia’s Nationwide Electoral Council have requested an investigation be opened into Colombian President Gustavo Petro’s 2022 marketing campaign over alleged spending and financing violations, two sources mentioned on Wednesday.
Magistrates Benjamin Ortiz and Alvaro Hernan Prada (OTC:) additionally requested an investigation into Ecopetrol chief govt Ricardo Roa, who served as Petro’s marketing campaign supervisor.
The allegations are the newest to envelope Petro’s authorities after former officers from the nation’s catastrophe response company this week provided to cooperate with prosecutors over alleged corruption involving procurement of water tankers.
Colombia’s president’s workplace didn’t remark however Petro has denied accusations of alleged unlawful financing of his marketing campaign for months, saying they’re a bid to overthrow him and forestall him from finishing up his promised social and financial reforms.
“An administrative body brings charges against the president of the republic. It is an open constitutional breach,” he mentioned on Wednesday in a message by way of X.
Ecopetrol, the nation’s majority state-owned power firm mentioned it had no feedback on information of the investigation, which was initially reported in native newspaper El Tiempo.
Justice Minister Nestor Osuna mentioned the federal government would abide by the ultimate resolution of the electoral council to both advance the investigation or abandon it.
The request for the investigation will subsequent be analyzed by all the electoral council magistrates, who will decide on whether or not to formally open the investigation, the sources mentioned.
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If the investigations go forward, Petro’s case would go earlier than the impeachment fee of the chamber of representatives.
The case towards Roa could be taken by the lawyer normal’s workplace.
The sources mentioned preliminary investigations discovered marketing campaign contributions exceeded authorized limits by 6 billion pesos ($1.5 million), in addition to funds and contributions from two unions that weren’t recorded within the marketing campaign’s accounts and chartered flights supplied by an aviation firm.
