Son of Colombia’s President Pleads Not Responsible to Cash Laundering Costs

BOGOTA (Reuters) – The eldest son of Colombian President Gustavo Petro, Nicolas Petro, on Tuesday pled not responsible to prices of cash laundering and illicit enrichment at a court docket in Bogota, the capital.

Nicolas Petro was arrested on Saturday within the metropolis of Barranquilla alongside his ex-wife, Daysuris del Carmen Vasquez, who was quoted in native press in March saying that two individuals accused of getting ties to drug trafficking gave her former partner money to assist the president’s election marketing campaign.

Whereas Vasquez stated the president was not conscious of the dealings, the case represents a scandal that would hamper the Petro administration’s pursuit of peace-and-surrender offers with armed teams and its bold reform agenda.

In line with the costs, Nicolas Petro, a lawmaker in Atlantico province, obtained cash from accused drug traffickers in trade for together with them within the president’s peace plans.

“Your honor, I don’t settle for the costs,” he instructed a choose in the course of the listening to.

By denying the costs, Nicolas Petro misplaced the possibility to safe a 50% discount of any sentence if convicted.

The president’s son might obtain a sentence of between 12 and 20 years if discovered responsible throughout a trial, in line with legal professionals.

Vasquez additionally denied the costs of cash laundering and violating knowledge safety legal guidelines.

(Reporting by Luis Jaime Acosta; Writing by Oliver Griffin; Modifying by Leslie Adler)

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