Colombia Senator Martha Peralta Detained in UNGRD Corruption Probe

Colombia’s Supreme Court ordered the detention and forced transfer of Senator Martha Peralta to ensure her appearance at an indagatory hearing in the investigation of the UNGRD corruption scandal. The magistrate Cristina Lombana authorized the measure after the senator sought to postpone the session, citing a risk of non‑appearance. Peralta spent the night under house arrest with police surveillance and was later moved to a police DIJIN facility.

A habeas corpus petition against the detention was rejected by a family court judge, who ruled the capture complied with legal provisions for ensuring court‑ordered testimony. Peralta alleges political persecution and has repeatedly claimed she will cooperate with authorities.

The case centres on alleged influence‑peddling in contracts worth more than 2 billion Colombian pesos for machinery and water‑supply projects in La Guajira. Former UNGRD director Olmedo López and former sub‑director Sneyder Pinilla have testified that the senator intervened to favour allies. Several other congress members are also under investigation, making the scandal one of the largest corruption probes of President Gustavo Petro’s administration.