Investigation into Medellín Officials for Alleged Contract Irregularities
The Attorney General’s Office of Colombia has announced serious allegations against two former officials of the Medellín administration, Juan Carlos Torres Ojeda and Estefanía Cuervo Sánchez. Both are embroiled in a controversy surrounding an inter-administrative contract signed on June 29, 2023, involving the Ministry of Mobility and Metroplus, which was under the leadership of former Mayor Daniel Quintero Calle.
Torres Ojeda, who was appointed as the Secretary of Mobility just a day before this crucial contract was signed, faces accusations of ideological falsehood in a public document. Meanwhile, Cuervo Sánchez is implicated as a co-author of the crime of executing a contract without adhering to legal requirements.
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The Contract in Question
The contract in contention was valued at approximately $15,053 million and was supposed to focus on the maintenance of the city’s road network. This maintenance, as highlighted by authorities, is deemed not directly related to the operations of Metroplus, causing further concerns regarding the justification of the agreement.
The accusations in this case are quite substantial. According to the evidence gathered by Caracol Radio, the contract did not fulfill the necessary legal requirements. For instance, there was a lack of required preliminary studies, failure to publish the contract in the Electronic Public Procurement System (SECOP II), and the absence of mandatory supervision reports. This kind of oversight raises alarming questions about accountability in public contracts.
Additionally, it has been revealed that the document in question was signed on the same day that a legal prohibition came into effect, which restricted the entry into direct contracts under the Law of Guarantees. This has led to suspicions about the intentions behind the contract’s execution and highlights the need for diligent scrutiny of such processes.
Judicial Proceedings Ahead
On August 13, 2025, it was reported that a Judge in Medellín accepted evidence presented by the Prosecutor’s Office regarding alleged irregularities in the awarding of various contracts tied to the maintenance of green areas in the city. This ongoing investigation includes additional individuals, such as the former Secretary of Infrastructure, Natalia Urrego, and the former manager of Metroparques, Jorge Enrique Liévano.
Recent developments indicate that preparations are underway for judicial proceedings, including a preliminary hearing designed to sift through evidence. The court has already deemed some of the defense’s proposed evidence as irrelevant, prompting anticipated appeals that will need to be resolved by the Superior Court of Medellín before further actions can take place.
The duo is facing severe scrutiny not only for the contract but also for possible involvement in a broader scheme characterized by contractual irregularities and the misuse of public resources. The former Secretary of Infrastructure and other involved parties have already faced disciplinary actions, which include lengthy bans from participating in public service.
The case highlights the pressing need for reform in how public contracts are managed and monitored in Colombia, given that transparency and accountability are paramount for the proper functioning of public institutions. Moving forward, citizens and watchdog organizations will likely keep a vigilant eye on developments in this case, hoping it sets a precedent for responsible governance in the region.