A smear campaign aims to discredit his name by linking him to the controversial Nule Group construction firm, suspended Bogota Mayor Samuel Moreno said Monday in an interview with W Radio.
“They use lies, there is a moral and political smear campaign,” said the official.
The ex-mayor was suspended in May for alleged irregularities in the awarding of public work contracts for the TransMilenio, Bogota’s controversial new bus system. He is charged with embezzlement, extortion, malfeasance by omission and contracting without legal requirements.
Nule Group director Miguel Nule accused Moreno in October 2010 of receiving a commission in return for awarding a contract to the Nule Group to complete Phase III of the TransMilenio construction. The accusations prompted a disciplinary investigation by the Prosecutor General’s Office.
Moreno claimed he did not meet with the Nule Group and that he “never” received money for a contract with the firm.
The Transmilenio Phase III contract, Moreno said, was awarded before he became mayor.