Directors of construction firm the Nule Group repeat their corruption allegations against Bogota politicians, while the inspector general rules that their incriminating tape recording is legally admissable as evidence, Caracol Radio reported Tuesday.
Miguel Nule confirmed before the inspector general that he recorded the tape, which apparently reveals corruption amongst senior Bogota officials, including Mayor Samuel Moreno and his brother Ivan, over the awarding of public works contracts.
In the conversation Miguel Nule of the Nule Group is apparently heard speaking with then-Congress member German Olano about Bogota’s TransMilenio bus project, and mentions “the Morenos” in connection with commission payments. Olano then goes on to speak of “Samuel” and “Ivan;” the names of the mayor and his brother.
Former Congressman German Olano’s lawyer had argued that the recording was obtained illegally.
This, however, was dismissed by Inspector General Alejandro Ordoñez, who upheld its legality on the grounds that “it does not require a warrant if [he] who is recording is [also] the victim.”
In the hearing, held via video conference from Miami, Miguel Nule confirmed his corruption allegations against Olano, despite stating that at first he had considered him as another “victim” of Bogota corruption.
He explained that Olano had requested nearly $2 million in return for a favorable consideration in the awarding of the Phase III TransMilenio contract, with half of that money allegedly preserved for Olano himself, according to El Tiempo.
Labelling the officials “extortionists,” Nule also reiterated previous revelations that the Nule Group had paid 6% commissions to Mayor Samuel Moreno and his brother, Senator Ivan Moreno, while Comptroller Miguel Angel Moralesrussi received 2%.
Nule reserved special criticism for Moralesrussi, describing him as a “pathological liar.” For his part, Moralesrussi countered that Nule had received “outrageous treatment” and even questioned his mental health.
Guido Nule, Miguel’s cousin, further testified about a meeting with the comptroller in which “he asked me for more money and turned up the music” after requesting that their cell phones were left on the other side of the room.
The statements by the Nule cousins will be included in the investigations into the Moreno brothers being conducted by the inspector general.
