Colombian First Lady implicated in alleged corruption by former advisor's audio

Audio recordings released by Semana magazine implicate Eva Ferrer, a former advisor to Colombian First Lady Verónica Alcocer, in alleged corruption schemes. Ferrer, a Spanish national who was granted Colombian citizenship and served as presidential advisor for reconciliation from 2022 to 2023, claims Alcocer controlled appointments in state entities and used several of her cousins as fronts.

In the recordings, Ferrer describes the situation as "a mafia" and "a band of criminals." She also alleges that Spanish businessman Manuel Grau, who later became a naturalized Colombian, delivered 2 million euros to Alcocer during President Gustavo Petro's 2022 presidential campaign. "Manuel gave them to Verónica," Ferrer stated in one of the audio clips.

While Colombia does not have an official First Lady position with defined duties, Ferrer suggests Alcocer wielded significant influence over positions within the state oil company Ecopetrol, the Agrarian Bank, and the Directorate of Taxes and National Customs (DIAN). Ferrer questioned the number of positions Alcocer allegedly controlled, asking, "How many posts does the lady have in Ecopetrol? (...) She has DIAN."

Furthermore, Ferrer reported that 1 billion pesos (approximately $316,000) disappeared in cash from the Presidential Office for Reconciliation, which she led. She questioned the whereabouts of the funds, stating, "Who has them? Where are they?" The projects managed by the office, she claimed, were substandard, with payments made for positions filled and for "large operations."

These revelations come amid ongoing scrutiny of the Petro administration, which has been marred by corruption scandals. In January 2024, reports highlighted the first lady's substantial expenses and perceived power, contrasting with Petro's campaign promises of change and austerity. The expenses for maintaining Alcocer's team reportedly amounted to about 1 billion pesos monthly since August 2022.