Nicolás Petro, son of Colombian president, released into house arrest

Nicolás Petro, son of the Colombian President, was released into house arrest following his arrest on July 29 on charges of money laundering and illicit enrichment.

The decision was made during a nine-hour-long hearing held on August 4.

Daysuris Vásquez, Petro’s former partner, is also under house arrest while an ongoing investigation continues.

Both Petro and Vásquez have been charged this week with money laundering in connection to the alleged irregular funding of President Gustavo Petro’s campaign.

Vásquez admitted that these funds were not directed towards the presidential campaign but intended for a mansion purchase in Villa Campestre, Barranquilla.

According to the Colombian Prosecutor’s Office, Nicolás Petro, also charged with illicit enrichment, admitted to some of the allegations.

The prosecutors revealed that Petro claimed the money was contributed by three men linked to drug trafficking and smuggling.

The case has caused a stir in Colombian politics and society less than a year after the election of the first leftist president who ran on an agenda focusing on economic inequality and drug violence.

Following the prosecutor’s statement about Nicolás Petro’s admission, his father denied that his campaign had received illegal funding.

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