The process to take possession of properties owned by people who are responsible for the “Contract Carousel” (Carrusel de la Contratación) 1 Bogotá continues. This is a case of forfeiture (Extinción de Dominio)2 of 24 properties with a value of approximately $40.633 million pesos that the former contractor Emilio José Tapia Aldana, his front man Carlos Augusto Joly and his closest relatives had under their name.
The Attorney General’s Office conducted an asset seizure process (Extinción de Dominio) against six properties, twelve companies, financial products and over 2,700 million pesos which were the product of accounts seized to Temach company. Three of these properties are located in Bogotá, two in Sahagún (Cordoba) and one land in Tabio (Cundinamarca).
The National Unit of Prosecutor’s Offices on Assets Forfeiture and Money Laundering is tracking properties which are under the name of Tapias Aldana, Joly Herrera, his relatives and third parties. The latter, do not have the financial capacity to obtain the properties that appear under their names.
This case begins on April 2013 when a decision was handed down in order to conduct an Assets Forfeiture process (Extinción de Dominio) against properties belonging to 14 individuals who worked during government of the detainee Samuel Moreno Rojas, former mayor of Bogotá, and some lobbyists and contractors who are part of the so called “Contract Cartel” (Cartel de la Contratación in spanish).
1. Contract carousel: Carrusel de la contratación in spanish. It is an ongoing investigation into corruption and irregularities concerning public construction in Bogotá, among others.
1. Assets Forfeiture: Extinción de Dominio in spanish. A constitutional action to take control of properties illegally obtained.