Colombian presidential candidate Iván Cepeda says he will pursue criminal charges against his rival, Abelardo de la Espriella, alleging links to illegal armed groups. Cepeda announced that his team filed a criminal complaint with Colombia’s Prosecutor General’s Office and also indicated an avenue for inquiry involving the International Criminal Court. The complaint is tied to allegations that De la Espriella received funding from illegal armed groups and may have ties to the now-defunct paramilitary organization AUC (Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia).
Both reports describe Cepeda’s move as part of the election campaign, with the candidate framing the allegations as grounds for legal and judicial review. The sources do not provide details on any response from De la Espriella or on whether prosecutors will accept the complaint or open an investigation. The accounts focus on Cepeda’s stated intent to seek formal proceedings based on the alleged financial and paramilitary connections.
