A high official of Colombia’s State Council was arrested Monday by Prosecutor General agents for allegedly peddling influence in the Council of State.
At the same time, a disciplinary investigation against chief clerk for the council’s fifth section, Carlos Fernandez, is being conducted by the Inspector General’s Office. This follows complaints about the possible existence of a network of attorneys and employees of the Fifth Section that encouraged influence-peddling in within the organization.
According to newspaper El Tiempo, there is evidence of payments made for information regarding electoral complaints and delays of the legal process.
The Fifth Section of the High Court is involved in resolving electoral disputes or irregularities in elections due to the incompatibility of those who are elected to public corporations.
The Inspector General’s Office possesses recordings in which Fernandez talks to a former magistrate regarding a supposed plan to offer bribes to an assistant judge. Fernandez will also be questioned regarding actions seeming to favor certain defendants.
According to newspaper El Espectador, the arrest of Fernandez is the first so far and that several other officials are being investigated for the alleged conduct of conspiracy in competition with money laundering, procedural fraud, extortion, bribery and influence peddling.