Colombian President Gustavo Petro’s son arrested in cash laundering probe

Nicolas Petro, son of Colombian President Gustavo Petro, has been arrested as a part of an investigation into cash laundering and illicit enrichment, the lawyer normal’s workplace stated early on Saturday.

The youthful Petro, a politician in Atlantico province, had welcomed the investigation when it started in March and has beforehand known as accusations that he took cash from drug traffickers in change for together with them in his father’s peace efforts to finish civil strife.

Colombian media confirmed movies of each being escorted to a authorities aircraft by safety brokers in armored autos and bikes.

Petro stated on X, the platform beforehand often known as Twitter, that it was painful for one among his youngsters to be jailed, however that the lawyer normal’s workplace had all ensures to proceed in response to the legislation.

“To my son I want luck and power. Might these occurrences forge his character and should he mirror about his personal errors,” the president stated. “As I affirmed to the lawyer normal I cannot intervene nor stress his selections, could the legislation freely information the method.”

Colombia’s procurator stated in a separate assertion it should intervene within the upcoming hearings of Petro’s son and his ex-wife to make sure the authorized system is revered, in addition to the elemental rights and ensures of all events.

The president has pledged to make peace or give up offers with rebels and crime gangs to finish Colombia’s 60-year inside battle, which has killed 450,000 individuals.

Efforts have been met with combined success throughout his first yr in workplace.

Revived negotiations with the Nationwide Liberation Military (ELN) guerrilla group have led to a ceasefire set to start in August, whereas efforts to carry conversations with main crime gang the Clan del Golfo have faltered attributable to continued violence.

A proposed legislation to manage crime group surrenders, giving individuals decrease sentences in change for info and restorative work, has drawn harsh critique together with from the lawyer normal.

The lawyer normal’s workplace will request to a choose that the youthful Petro and Vasquez be held on the costs, it stated.

“Prices can be formulated for the aforementioned crimes and liberty restriction measures can be requested,” the lawyer normal’s workplace stated in an announcement.