Colombian president’s son Nicolas Petro to go on trial for laundering money that was donated to his father’s presidential campaign

The son of Colombian President Nicolás Petro will stand trial for money laundering and illegal enrichment, according to documents filed by the Public Prosecution Service in court on Monday.

Nicolás Petro was arrested on July 31 and later released under strict conditions for accepting donations for his father’s campaign ahead of the 2022 elections.

The younger Petro admitted to investigators that he had taken money from Samuel “The Marlboro Man” Santander, a former politician who had served 18 of a 25-year prison sentence in the United States for drug trafficking; Alfonso “Turco” Hilsaca, a Cartagena businessman with ties to Los Rastrojos, a drug cartel and paramilitary group; and Óscar Camacho, a well-known businessman from Cúcuta.

President Petro had publicly commented on the upcoming trial of his son as of Monday evening.

Nicolás Petro with his father, Colombian President Gustavo Petro

He tried to make a deal seeking a lighter sentence, but this was ultimately rejected by the attorney general’s office.

“According to Nicolás Petro, part of the money was allegedly kept to increase his assets and those of his (former) wife (Daysuris) Vásquez,” Mario Burgos, the chief prosecutor, said in August.

Colombian authorities first learned of Nicolás Petro’s plan after Vásquez revealed explosive details in an interview with local news magazine Semana.

Vásquez admitted to being present at meetings where her former husband received $150,000 from Santander.

She recalled that her husband met Santander through his daughter, who was his friend for many years. She recalled that the conversation with Santander took place in February or March 2022 at his daughter’s home.

Vásquez said her husband also accepted $103,000 from Hilsaca.

Nicolás Petro (left), his estranged wife Daysuris Vásquez (center) and his father, Colombian President Gustavo Petro

She said Nicolás Petro took the money and never forwarded the campaign contribution.

Nicolás Petro, a former lawmaker in the Atlántico department, reportedly used the money to buy a mansion, an apartment in a condominium and a Mercedes Benz SUV.

Vásquez told Semana that she first heard that he had no intention of sending the money to his father’s campaign when she told him her vehicle had battery problems.

Once, Nicolás Petro texted her: “I’m not going to buy another car, because with the money we have, we’re going to buy a house.”

The couple signed a purchase contract and put down 60 percent (about $180,000) of what the house was worth.

However, Vásquez said she decided against purchasing the new home for “obvious reasons.”

Prosecutors also accused Vásquez of money laundering.