Villa de Leyva Mayor Formally Accused of Extortion Over Permits

Víctor Gamboa, the mayor of Villa de Leyva, faces formal accusations from the Attorney General's Office for allegedly demanding money in exchange for facilitating urban planning procedures. Gamboa was arrested on May 7 in the town's main square and subsequently transferred to Bogotá for hearings. He remains in preventive detention as the legal process unfolds.

The formal charges, filed on July 17, include extortion and prevarication by action against Gamboa. Juan Camilo Sánchez Torres, a private individual, has also been accused of extortion in the same proceedings. According to the investigation, Gamboa allegedly pressured the legal representative of an investment company on June 8, 2025, to hire Sánchez Torres for assistance with permits and administrative requirements. The mayor reportedly later sought to increase the contractor's fees, who had already received approximately 48 million pesos over 11 months.

Further details reveal that on March 4, 2026, Gamboa allegedly requested 112 million pesos, equivalent to 20% of the value for an expanded construction license, from the businesswoman via voice messages. Although the prosecution states this demand was later withdrawn, the mayor reportedly issued a resolution two days later. This resolution did not consider a potential conflict of interest and may have constituted retaliation or pressure due to the businesswoman's initial refusal to meet his financial demands. Consequently, the Secretariat of Planning and Territorial Ordering of Villa de Leyva rejected the construction license expansion request.