Colombia’s Supreme Court Orders Arrest of Former Congressional Leaders Over Corruption Scandal

Report by Safarti Tarjuman International Desk

Colombia’s Supreme Court has issued arrest warrants for two prominent former lawmakers, Ivan Name and Andres Calle, in connection with a major corruption probe tied to legislative bribery.

Ivan Name, ex-president of the Colombian Senate and a member of the Alianza Verde party, and Andres Calle, former House of Representatives president from the Liberal party, are accused of accepting 4 billion pesos (approximately $1 million USD) in bribes. The alleged payments were reportedly made in exchange for helping pass key legislative initiatives backed by President Gustavo Petro’s administration.

The allegations stem from testimony provided by imprisoned former officials of the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD), who claim Name and Calle were recipients of illicit funds used to secure favorable votes in Congress. The UNGRD has been at the center of a widening corruption scandal over misappropriated public funds.

Authorities confirmed that Ivan Name has already been taken into custody by police, while Andres Calle’s status remains under review. Both politicians have publicly denied the charges and claim political motivations are behind the allegations.

Due to the criminal proceedings, both Name and Calle have been formally stripped of their congressional seats. Under Colombian law, these positions cannot be filled while legal action is ongoing.

In response to heightened tensions and potential threats, Colombian security forces have increased their presence around the nation’s top court facilities in Bogotá, including the headquarters of the Supreme Court of Justice.

The scandal has dealt a significant blow to the credibility of the Colombian legislature and marks a major challenge for President Petro’s administration as it faces increasing scrutiny over governance and transparency.