Former director of Bogota‘s Urban Development Institute (IDU) pleaded in front of the judge Friday that she be released because of the court’s lack of timely action in beginning her trial.
Liliana Pardo was being held for a wide range of corruption charges due to fiscal irregularities found in public transportation projects conducted during her term.
However, in Colombia a suspect can request release if he has been detained for more than 90 days without going to trial. Therefore, Pardo’s defense argued that because 105 days have already passed since the start of her case without beginning formal legal investigations and judicial proceedings, Pardo should be released.
The judge ruled in favor that Pardo be released to house arrest because she is the head of her household.
Pardo is the first of those involved in the Bogota public transportation scandal that has been able to be leave jail.
Former Bogota Comptroller Miguel Angel Moralesrussi attempted the same petition last month, and was denied release because the judge felt that all of the complexities of the prosecution’s research warranted the delay in Moralesrussi’ trial.