Iván Name and Andrés Calle released from prison in UNGRD case

The Special Chamber of First Instance of the Supreme Court of Justice has ordered the provisional release of former Senate President Iván Name and former House of Representatives President Andrés Calle. The decision follows the expiration of legal time limits (vencimiento de términos) within their corruption case involving the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD).

Both former legislators had been detained at La Picota prison in Bogotá for 17 months. The court determined that the legal period allowed for the trial to conclude had passed without a final judgment, provided the delay was not attributable to the defendants. While released from prison, both remain under investigation for alleged involvement in a bribery scandal involving approximately 4,000 million pesos.

According to the investigation, the funds—allegedly derived from irregular contracts within the UNGRD—were intended to influence the processing of government reforms in the legislature. The court imposed non-custodial measures, including the obligation to appear when summoned, a prohibition on leaving the country, and the requirement to report changes in residence and provide a financial bond.