The three directors of the construction conglomerate Nule Group were also fined $5.2M for siphoning off the money, which was given to them by Bogota‘s Urban Development Institute for three public works projects.
Their partner Mauricio Galofre was also sent to jail for six years and fined $4.1M.
The four men pleaded guilty to embezzling millions of dollars meant for the construction of public transport links and roadworks in Bogota.
According to the Colombian criminal code, embezzlement by appropriation is punishable by 8 to 22 years prison, but the men got reduced sentences in return for guilty pleas.
Bogota’s suspended mayor Samuel Moreno and his brother Senator Ivan Moreno are also wrapped up in the scandal. They are alleged to have extorted a 6% commission from the Nule Group in return for the awarding of the contracts. Samuel Moreno was formally charged in September.
The scandal began to unravel when a tape recording surfaced, capturing a conversation between one of the Nule Group directors and former Congressman German Olano that implicated Moreno and his brother Ivan.