The Office of the Attorney General and the National Registry Office investigate alleged irregularities in the issuance of civil registries and identification documents for foreign migrants

The inter-institutional work allowed to carry out a judicial inspection at the Special Registry (Registraduría Especial) in Soledad, Atlántico in which alleged acts of corruption were taking place. 

Thanks to the joint and coordinated work of the Office of the Attorney General and the National Registry, a judicial inspection was carried out at the headquarters of the Special  Registry of Soledad, Atlántico (Registraduría Especial y Auxiliar) in order to making progress in the investigations concerning  irregularities detected in internal audits that were communicated to the public opinion. These would be alleged irregular registrations in the birth certificate and the identification of foreign migrants. 

The announcement was made in Barranquilla (Atlántico) by the Attorney General Francisco Barbosa Delgado and the National Registrar, Alexander Vega Rocha, where the search warrant proceeding was carried out. 

During the proceedings, a special team of the Technical Investigative Corps (Cuerpo Técnico de Investigación- CTI) of the Office of the Attorney General collected documents, videos, interviews and other evidence in order to identify the perpetrators of these acts of corruption that were carried out systematically.  

The public servants who are allegedly linked to these irregular activities could face criminal charges and a disciplinary liability. They allegedly committed crimes against the public faith since allegedly issued identification documents to foreign citizens who are in the national territory and who intended to participate in elections in the country. 

This operation is part of the strategy defined by the Attorney General, Francisco Barbosa Delgado aimed at clarifying the acts of corruption that affect citizens’ trust in the State and the institutions that represent it.  

For his part, the National Registrar, Alexander Vega Rocha, stated that the registrars were relieved of their duties and announced the suspension of services at the headquarters while the authorities investigate the facts.  

“This is a message, because this case, like so many others that are taking place in  different parts of the country, will see the actions of institutions; in this case, with the Registrar’s Office or with the Comptroller General, so that people feel that justice is resolute. We speak with actions”, concluded the Attorney General Francisco Barbosa. 

The Office of the Attorney General makes this information public for reasons of general interest.