Senator Ivan Moreno has been arrested for his involvement in the corruption scandal regarding the illegal awarding of public works contracts to the Nule Group, Colombian media reported Thursday.
Moreno was arrested at his family’s home in the La Soledad neighborhood of Bogota, by members of the Technical Investigation Team (CTI), based on a decision taken by the Supreme Court. He is currently being held at the Prosecutor General’s Office.
The arrest was made at the same time as Nule Group member Mauricio Galofre gave testimony before a group of three Supreme Court judges on Thursday, providing evidence which is expected to support the case against Moreno, newspaper El Pais reported.
The Nule cousins have accused Moreno of receiving an illegal commission of six percent for the awarding of the public works contracts, an amount equal to $5.628 million (COP 10.5 billion). The directors also have said that they met with Moreno on more than four occasions in both Bogota and Miami.
The ex-senator’s brother, former Bogota Mayor Samuel Moreno, has been implicated as well while the Nule directors have been sent to prison as the trial proceeds.
The officials also reportedly received more money if the public works were delayed, thus increasing project costs.
The trial against Moreno has been suspended since March 15, when the official’s lawyer resigned from the case, and the replacement lawyer, Jaime Araujo, requested time to familiarize himself with his client. Proceedings will resume on May 2.
