The former mayor of Colombia’s capital Bogota was charged Tuesday with receiving illegal kickbacks for public works contracts.
Samuel Moreno was charged at a public court hearing.
Prosecutor Ricardo Gonzalez told the court that Moreno and his brother Ivan Moreno accepted $7.8 million in illegal commissions and received support from company officials for their electoral campaigns. In exchange, they allegedly awarded public works contracts to the companies in the city of Bogota.
Both have denied the charges.
The 51-year-old ex-mayor was suspended from his post in May. He was detained in September, and his brother in April.
According to the Prosecutor general’s Office, Samuel Moreno faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted.
