
Former Colombian president rejects accusations from woman who accuses him of granting deals in exchange for sex
AI-generated summary
Gustavo Petro ruled Colombia from 2022 to 2026 and now leads the opposition to the new hard-right president, Abelardo de la Espriella. He has also served five terms as a parliamentarian since 1991.
Left-wing former Colombian President Gustavo Petro is under investigation following a complaint from a woman who accuses him of awarding public contracts in exchange for sex, the president of the country's Supreme Court said on Saturday. Mr. Petro led the country from 2022 to 2026 and now leads the opposition to the new hard-right president, Abelardo de la Espriella. He has also served five terms as a parliamentarian since 1991.
The case reached the Supreme Court after a woman filed a complaint claiming that she and around 30 people obtained public contracts in exchange for sex with Gustavo Petro. He rejects these allegations. “There are facts which correspond to the period when he was a parliamentarian and others which correspond to the moment when he was president,” Judge Mauricio Lenis, president of the country's highest court, explained to local media on Saturday.
Among the facts denounced, “those which have criminal relevance and the responsibilities which would be attached to them” will be made public, added Mr. Lenis regarding the joint investigations with the prosecution, covered by the secrecy of the investigation.
A former utility worker, Deicy Jiménez, posted a video showing herself with Gustavo Petro after an alleged sexual encounter. The images, which have gone viral, show them hugging and kissing. The ex-president assured that he would answer before the judges for accusations of corruption, and affirmed on X to have never used “a state contract to obtain favors from anyone”. He believes that these accusations are part of a plan orchestrated by his political opponents.
This is not the first time Mr. Petro has been singled out for his behavior with women. In the past, he called a group of female journalists “mafia dolls.”
His daughters, Antonella and Sofía Petro, released a statement on Sunday calling for avoiding harassment against victims. “We have confidence in the fact that our father, as he stated, will appear before the courts without delay,” they assured.
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Gustavo Petro will appear before judges to answer corruption charges
Likely · Within weeks
Facts of criminal relevance will be made public as part of joint investigations with the public prosecutor's office
Likely · Within weeks
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