OVER the weekend, Nicolas Petro, the son of President Gustavo Petro has been arrested by authorities along with his ex-wife Daysuris del Carmen Vasquez as part of a probe.
The Prosecutor’s Office said in a statement that the pair were taken into custody on orders of a court in Bogota at about 6 am local time on Saturday.
This comes as part of a high-profile money-laundering investigation into funds Nicolas allegedly collected from convicted drug traffickers during last year’s presidential campaign.
To recall, the 33-year-old presidential son was placed under investigation by the Fiscalia in early March over the accusations.
President Gustavo Petro and Prosecutor Francisco Barbosa are known to have had several public fights in the last year, and in recent weeks, Nicolas raised the concern that this could affect the investigation for illicit enrichment.
However, reports say that in this court case, the president has promised respect for the investigation despite the fact that it affects him personally.
It can be recalled that the younger Petro participated in his father’s presidential campaign in 2018 and was a key player in the 2022 campaign.
In a post on the social media platform ‘X’ formerly known as Twitter, the president said, “As a person and a father, so much self-destruction hurts me a lot and the fact that one of my sons goes to jail”.
“I wish my son luck and strength. May these events forge your character and may you reflect on your own mistakes,” he also added.
So far, there have not yet been any recent statements released from Nicolas’ side following the arrest, however, it can be remembered the president’s son had earlier denied the claims and welcomed the inquiry when it was launched earlier this year.
