A Bogota judge on Monday ordered the investigation of the son of Colombia’s richest man over his alleged involvement in the Odebrecht bribery scandal.
The court order followed the sentencing of Jose Elias Melo, a former executive of Grupo Aval, the banking conglomerate that is largely owned by Luis Carlos Sarmiento and run by his son, Luis Carlos Sarmiento Jr.
Former executive of Colombia banking giant sentenced to 12 years over Odebrecht bribery
Melo’s 12-year prison sentence was partly based on the testimony of Luis Antonio Bueno, Odebrecht’s former top dog in Colombia.
The Brazilian engineering firm’s widespread bribery practices have led to criminal investigations throughout Latin America and Africa.
According to Bueno, he was told by Melo’s CFO at Corficolombia, Gustavo Ramirez, that Sarmiento Jr. was in on the bribery of jailed former deputy Transport Minister Gabriel Garcia.
Former Odebrecht Colombia chief Luis Antonio Bueno
Colombia’s 10 top corporations, or mafia organizations?
The judge ordered this investigation of Sarmiento Jr., Ramirez, and three Grupo Aval associates who allegedly conspired to bribe Garcia.
The conviction of Melo and the investigation of Sarmiento Jr. are only thickening the plot of the Odebrecht scandal that has already left two witnesses dead and is implicating some of the country’s most powerful people.
Prosecutor General Nestor Humberto Martinez, Grupo Aval’s former judicial adviser, has been removed from the case and President Ivan Duque met with Odebrecht officials in Brazil ahead of alleged illegal payments made to Duque’s party, the Democratic Center, ahead of the 2014 elections.
Former President Juan Manuel Santos’ former campaign chief has also been charged for allegedly receiving illegal campaign funds in 2010 and 2014.
The alleged widespread corruption in the very top of Colombia’s executive and judicial branches have complicated criminal investigations that have been marred by irregularities.