By Natalia Rueda 
A Bogota judge has ruled that the search and seizure of former Colombian President Gustavo Petro’s son, Nicolas Petro, and his ex-wife, Daysuris Vásquez, is lawful. This follows a six-hour hearing related to allegations of money laundering and illlicit enrichment.
According to the statement released by the Attorney General’s Office, these crimes are believed to have occurred between 2022 and the present. The two suspects will now be placed at the disposal of a municipal criminal judge, and the authorities will request a restrictive measure of liberty.
The decision to authorize the searches and arrest is only the beginning of a lengthy investigation into the couple, and prosecutors are expected to begin pressing charges. The judge also ordered that the defense lawyers of Petro Burgos and Vásquez did not appeal the decision.
This is what President Gustavo Petro said:
“My son Nicolas and his ex-wife Days As a person and a father, it hurts me very much to see so much self-destruction and that one of my sons goes to jail; as President of the Republic, I assure that the prosecution has all the guarantees on my part to proceed according to the law. I wish my son luck and strength. May these events forge his character and may he reflect on his own mistakes. As I stated before the Attorney General I will not intervene or pressure his decisions; may the law freely guide the process”.
The hearing that authorized the arrest and indictment of Nicolás Petro and Daysuris Vásquez ended with a warning to the prosecutor Mario Burgos, the investigator in charge of their case. Burgos was accused of providing wrong information in an email stating that the defense lawyers were arriving in the capital at the end of the day.
The investigation is ongoing and the outcome remains to be seen. It is unclear how the decision by the judge may influence the political dynamics of Colombia, but the ruling does indicate the Colombian judicial system is taking the accusations against the couple seriously.