Matador faces criminal complaint over Colombian government contract

Caricaturist Julio César González Quiceno, known as Matador, is facing a criminal complaint filed with the Fiscalía General de la Nación regarding a contract signed during the administration of President Gustavo Petro.

The complaint, filed by Carlos Andrés Ríos Puerta, acting director of the Administrative Department of the Presidency (Dapre), questions the contracting, execution, and supervision of Contract 1937 of 2024. The agreement, valued at approximately 257 million pesos plus VAT, was intended for the creation of graphic content to promote the implementation of the Peace Agreement through the Fondo Colombia en Paz.

Key irregularities cited in the complaint include inconsistencies in the contractor's identification and discrepancies regarding VAT payments. Specifically, the complaint notes that while the contract included monthly VAT payments, the contractor's tax registry initially identified him as not responsible for that tax, a status that was later modified via an amendment. The investigation seeks to determine if legal and administrative requirements were met during the contract's 12-month term.