Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos hired a shaman who is at the center of a corruption investigation, an official statement confirmed Thursday.
The Presidential Palace admitted that Jorge Gonzalez, who received $12,000 “to keep rain away” from the U20 Soccer World Cup in Colombia last year, was paid $1,500 “to provide some services” at the inauguration ceremony of President Santos.
The shaman came under the spotlight this week, when he was revealed to be part of a $1 million contracts scandal involving the organizers of the U20 World Cup.
The revelations prompted an investigation by the Bogota financial watchdog and a summons for Gonzalez to answer question from the Prosecutor General.
Thursday’s presidential statement insisted, “The Presidency of the Republic did not give, or transfer a single penny to Jorge Gonzalez” — based upon the fact the ceremony’s organization was outsourced to operating company Campaign For President Santos.