Colombia - July 2023

President Gustavo Petro’s son, local politician Nicolas Petro Burgos, was arrested along with his former spouse, accused of money laundering. Prosecutors launched an investigation into Petro Burgos’s finances after his former spouse revealed that he had received large payments from a former drug trafficker and individuals accused of corruption as contributions to his father’s campaign and peace plan, but reportedly without the knowledge of now president Petro. According to prosecutors, the contributions were kept by Petro Burgos to finance a lavish lifestyle. While initially Petro Burgos denied the allegations, prosecutors affirmed in early August that Petro Burgos acknowledged in a sworn statement to using contributions for his personal enrichment. He reportedly further alleged that Petro’s campaign had received undisclosed funds, including part of the contributions that led to the money laundering investigation, without the knowledge of the now President. President Petro denies that his campaign received any illegal funds. 

Sources: El Pais (1), Cable News Network Espanol,  British Broadcasting Corporation, El Pais (2), El Pais (3)