# Judicial sanctions against Colombian officials > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/miguel-polo-polo-contempt-sentencing > Updated: 2026-08-24T18:13:35.000Z. Sources: 32. Developments: 8. In mid-June 2026, a Bogotá court sentenced Representative Miguel Polo Polo to three days of arrest and a fine of eight minimum wages for contempt of a Constitutional Court order. The sanction followed his failure to issue a required public apology to the Association of Mothers of Families of False Positives (MAFAPO) regarding remarks about an exhibition honoring victims of extrajudicial killings. In early July, the Supreme Court’s Special First-Instance Chamber sentenced congressman Pedro José Suárez Vacca to over 68 months for aggravated prevarication related to judicial decisions made while he served as a judge in Tunja. On 20 July, the Court convicted former Liberal Party congressman Germán Alonso Olano Becerra to 40 months for bribery linked to the Transmilenio project, and former Chocó governor Francisco Abraham Palacios Mena to 72 months for illegal construction contracts. On 24 July, former Bucaramanga mayor Luis Francisco Bohórquez filed a cassation request against his 17-year corruption sentence, alleging procedural errors. That same day, a Medellín judge sentenced former Itagüí firefighter treasurer Juan Alberto Cardona Henao to 19 months for contract falsification; former Medellín mayor Daniel Quintero criticized the sentence as “unacceptable.” On 28 July, the Bogotá Ninth Penal Circuit sentenced former Santa Marta mayor Carlos Eduardo Caicedo Omar to 117.6 months for aggravated embezzlement. While a capture order was issued, Caicedo reportedly traveled to Madrid on 17 July; his defense maintains he is not a fugitive as the sentence is not yet final. On 29 July, the Supreme Court upheld a seven-year sentence for former La Guajira governor Hernando Deluque Freyle for failed water and sewer projects, authorizing his detention. ## Claims - Carlos Caicedo was sentenced to 117.6 months (nine years and nine months) imprisonment. (corroborated by 12 sources) - He was fined more than 4.45 billion Colombian pesos. (corroborated by 12 sources) - He was barred from exercising public office for the same period as his prison term. (corroborated by 12 sources) - The conviction concerns irregularities in the 2014 PS‑04 contract for maintenance and adaptation of five health posts in Santa Marta. (corroborated by 12 sources) - The court found that public resources were misappropriated in favour of third parties. (corroborated by 11 sources) - The sentence does not allow any alternative or substitute sentencing mechanisms. (corroborated by 11 sources) - The ruling is a first‑instance decision that can be appealed; a capture order will be issued once the judgment becomes final. (corroborated by 11 sources) - The contract was worth about 6.5 billion pesos, but over 4.4 billion pesos were paid while the works completed were valued at roughly 1.5 billion pesos. (corroborated by 10 sources) - Hernán Giraldo Serna was convicted of sexually abusing three girls aged 11‑12 between 2004 and 2006. (corroborated by 3 sources) - He was sentenced to 20 years, 11 months and 24 days in prison. (corroborated by 3 sources) - Giraldo Serna was a commander of the Frente Resistencia Tayrona of the AUC. (corroborated by 3 sources) - The First Instance Chamber legalised the detention of former La Guajira governor Hernando Deluque Freyle. (corroborated by 3 sources) ## Timeline ### 2026-08-24: Carlos Caicedo sentenced to nine years in prison for corruption Former Colombian official Carlos Caicedo was sentenced to over nine years in prison for corruption related to Santa Marta's health network; his defense denies he has fled the country. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/carlos-caicedo-sentenced-to-nine-years-in-prison-for-corruption ### 2026-07-29: Colombia legalises detention of former La Guajira governor Hernando Deluque Colombia's First Instance Chamber legalised the detention of ex‑governor Hernando Deluque after a Supreme Court upheld his seven‑year sentence for an illegal 2.1 million‑peso contract and unpaid advance of over 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/colombia-legalises-detention-of-former-la-guajira-governor-hernando-deluque ### 2026-07-28: Carlos Caicedo sentenced to nearly 10 years for health‑sector corruption in Santa Marta Carlos Caicedo, ex‑mayor of Santa Marta, was sentenced to 9 years 9 months, fined 4.45 bn pesos and barred from public office for contract fraud on a 2014 health‑center project. 13 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/hernn-giraldo-serna-sentenced-to-over-20-years-for-sexual-abuse-of-minors-in-colombia ### 2026-07-24: Colombian ex‑mayors face prison sentences and appeal rulings in corruption cases Colombia’s ex‑mayor Luis Bohórquez seeks to overturn a 17‑year corruption sentence, while former Itagüí fire‑department treasurer Juan Cardona receives a 19‑month jail term, prompting former Medellín mayor Quin 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/colombian-exmayors-face-prison-sentences-and-appeal-rulings-in-corruption-cases ### 2026-07-20: Colombian Supreme Court convicts former lawmaker and ex‑governor over corrupt contracts Colombia’s Supreme Court sentenced ex‑lawyer Germán Alonso Olano (40 months) and former Chocó governor Francisco Palacios (72 months) for corruption in Transmilenio and infrastructure contracts, imposing fines, 8 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/colombian-supreme-court-convicts-former-lawmaker-and-exgovernor-over-corrupt-contracts ### 2026-07-11: Colombian Supreme Court Sentences Congressman Pedro Suárez Vacca to Prison for Prevarication Colombia’s Supreme Court sentenced congressman Pedro Suárez Vacca to 68 months in prison, a fine and a 110‑month ban from office for prevarication linked to illegal house‑arrest decisions, prompting political c 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/colombian-congressman-pedro-surez-vacca-convicted-of-prevaricato ### 2026-06-18: Colombian Congressman Miguel Polo Polo Arrested for Contempt Over Apology Order Bogotá courts ordered a three‑day detention and fine for Congressman Miguel Polo Polo after he ignored a Constitutional Court order to publicly apologize to mothers of false‑positive victims. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/colombian-congressman-miguel-polo-polo-arrested-for-contempt-over-apology-order ### 2026-06-16: Colombian Congressman Miguel Polo Polo Sentenced to Three‑Day Arrest for Contempt Bogotá court orders three‑day arrest and a fine for Congressman Miguel Polo Polo after he failed to comply with a Constitutional Court mandate to publicly apologize to mothers of false‑positive victims. 8 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/colombian-congressman-miguel-polo-polo-sentenced-to-three-day-arrest-for-court-defiance --- Cite as: Judicial sanctions against Colombian officials. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/miguel-polo-polo-contempt-sentencing