Colombia’s Supreme Court has begun an investigation into Senate President Juan Manuel Corzo for corruption and nepotism.
According to reports by Colombian media, the Senate president allegedly used his position and influence to appoint regional leaders in the department of Santander, in Colombia’s north. Corzo has also been accused of managing large government shares in institutions such as the North East Independent Corporation, known as Corponor.
The Supreme Court will also be investigating whether Corzo has used his position as Senate president to appoint family members to positions of prominence, such as his brother Luis Alejandro Corzo, who holds an influential role at Corponor.
The Supreme Court will determine the date and time of proceedings against Corzo within the next few days.
This is not the first time Corzo has been in the spotlight in recent months. The Senate president caused a national scandal in September when he claimed that his monthly salary of $11,500 made it physically and economically impossible to fill the gasoline tanks of his two cars.