Omar Hernández Doux, the executive director of Spartan Hill and a contractor for the Colombian cryptocurrency company DailyCop, recently testified before the National Electoral Council (CNE) after being summoned by the Attorney General’s office. His testimony highlights an alleged contribution from DailyCop to the presidential campaign of Gustavo Petro in 2022.
DailyCop has been embroiled in controversies due to instances of fraud, making Hernández Doux’s statements particularly contentious in Colombia. On July 25, Bogotá councilman Daniel Briceño filed a complaint with the House of Representatives’ Accusation Commission against President Petro. The complaint alleges that Petro’s presidential campaign was unlawfully financed by funds from DailyCop, which could potentially lead to a prison sentence of four to eight years if proven.
Before addressing the Commission, Briceño announced on his X account that he would be denouncing President Petro for allegedly financing electoral campaigns with prohibited sources, following resources supposedly received from the illegal fundraising entity DailyCop.
After lodging the complaint, Briceño explained that it is rooted in a filing currently with the CNE, which states that the brother’s attorney involved in the DailyCop case mentioned financial contributions to Petro’s campaign. He aims to strengthen the ongoing impeachment proceedings against the president.
Briceño clarified that while political trials do not lead to criminal consequences, he is invoking articles concerning irregular campaign financing, arguing that utilizing illicit funds from DailyCop constitutes a crime. This could not only affect the campaign manager, Ricardo Roa, but also have direct repercussions for the President of Colombia.
He stated that if the accusations against President Petro are validated, they could result in a significant prison sentence. Following his comments to the media, Briceño conveyed through another post that this legal process, seeking accountability from the president, complements ongoing impeachment efforts led by various civil society members.
In prior comments on his social media, Briceño remarked on the severity of the allegations, referencing a report by Caracol Radio that indicated Petro’s campaign received illicit contributions from DailyCop, coupled with claims that campaign manager Ricardo Roa promised regulatory action on the cryptocurrency if Petro was elected.
In response, President Petro took to his social media, suggesting that the far-right’s desperation to initiate an impeachment process led to unfounded claims. He accused his opponents of terrorizing his family, harassing unions, and falsely alleging illegal contributions from leftist organizations—all while deflecting the attention away from investigations into donations from corrupt contractors.
Petro also expressed a desire for a thorough investigation, questioning why communications related to his presidential campaign had been illegally monitored for an extended period.
The unfolding events place significant scrutiny on both the credibility of the allegations against Petro and the broader implications for accountability in Colombian politics. For ongoing updates, you can follow credible news outlets and social media channels.
Image and News Source: https://www.infobae.com/colombia/2024/07/24/el-concejal-de-bogota-daniel-briceno-presento-demanda-penal-contra-el-presidente-gustavo-petro-asegura-que-el-delito-daria-hasta-8-anos-de-carcel/
