Miguel Quintero charged in Colombian contract fraud investigation

The Colombian Attorney General's Office has charged Miguel Andrés Quintero Calle, brother of former Medellín Mayor Daniel Quintero, and three others for alleged irregularities in six contracts between the Área Metropolitana del Valle de Aburrá (AMVA) and the Itagüí Volunteer Firefighters Corps.

Between 2019 and 2023, contracts totaling more than 17.6 billion Colombian pesos were signed to strengthen emergency response, disaster risk reduction, and provide COVID-19 kits. Prosecutors allege these agreements were directed without meeting legal requirements, resulting in a loss of over 2.4 billion pesos. The investigation identified potential overcharges for pandemic kits and payments for services, such as transportation and mobile phone recharges, that were allegedly never provided.

Although not a public official, Quintero Calle is accused of influencing the appointments of the AMVA director and administrative subdirector to facilitate the scheme. Prosecutors claim he ordered the contracts to be directed toward Misael Alberto Cadavid Jaramillo, manager of the Itagüí Firefighters, in exchange for a 15% commission. Quintero Calle has been charged with undue interest in the celebration of contracts and embezzlement by appropriation, charges which he has not accepted.