Colombia’s Prosecutor General Viviane Morales formally charged on Monday all three directors of the construction conglomerate the Nule Group in the ongoing investigation into a Bogota corruption scandal, Semana reports.
Miguel, Manuel and Guido Nule, all of whom are currently in Miami in the U.S., are charged with embezzlement by appropriation, fraud, misrepresentation, bribery and conspiracy for their role in the fraudulent awarding of contracts for public works in Bogota.
All three have been asked to attend a hearing on April 5, at the Criminal Court in Bogota. If they fail to do so, Morales stated that she will ask Interpol to issue a “red notice,” the closest possible instrument to an international arrest warrant that the agency can issue.
Until recently, the focus of the scandal had been on the Moreno brothers, Senator Ivan and Mayor of Bogota Samuel, for allegedly making the Nule Group pay a 6% commission in order to receive public works contracts.
While both brothers remain under investigation, the construction firm has come under intense scrutiny in the last few weeks for supposedly filing for bankruptcy under false pretences in order to sue the Colombian state for $265 million in damages.
They are also alleged to owe the Colombian tax authorities DIAN $2.68 million.
On March 9, a judge ordered the seizure of assets owned by the Nule Group worth nearly $160 million while the investigation continues.
Two state officials, implicated in the scandal, German Olano and Miguel Angel Moralesrussi, have already been barred from public office for 15 and 20 years respectively.
