Corte Suprema confirmó parcialmente condena contra exdirectora del IDU Liliana Pardo por ‘carrusel de la contratación’

The Supreme Court of Justice upheld the conviction of Liliana Pardo Gaona, former director of the Urban Development Institute (IDU) of Bogotá, for bribery in the case known as the ‘contracting carousel’. The Criminal Chamber confirmed her sentence of 108 months in prison, a fine equivalent to 99.5 current legal monthly minimum wages (SMLMV), and prohibited her from holding public office, all related to valuation contracts within the capital. The same ruling acquitted her of charges concerning the bidding for the road network.

The Criminal Chamber acquitted Pardo in the bidding process for the road network after determining that there was reasonable doubt and insufficient evidence on that segment. However, the conviction for bribery concerning the valuation contracts was maintained, as it was established that she accepted a benefit in exchange for steering the awarding of public contracts. Thus, the judicial decision distinguishes between actions in each instance and imposes punishment solely for the manipulation of valuation works through verified illicit agreements.

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While analyzing the bidding for the road network, the Supreme Court of Justice concluded that the available evidence did not sufficiently demonstrate the delivery of privileged information or the existence of a corrupt agreement by Pardo Gaona.

The defense presented alternative hypotheses attributing the irregularities to other officials, particularly Inocencio Meléndez Julio, who had access and responsibilities at the IDU before Pardo’s tenure. The court identified inconsistencies in the statements of key witnesses against Pardo and the lack of clear evidence linking her directly to the steering of the road network.

Additionally, doubts were raised about the dates of relevant meetings, the absence of evidence connecting the ex-director to the delivery of draft conditions, and uncertainty regarding her involvement in economic agreements prior to the awarding. For these reasons, the Criminal Chamber applied the principle of reasonable doubt and acquitted Pardo Gaona concerning the road network.

In contrast to the previous case, the conviction against Pardo Gaona was upheld for her actions in the valuation contracts executed with public contribution resources. According to the Supreme Court of Justice, in her role as general director of the IDU and president of the awarding committee, Pardo Gaona accepted a monetary promise in exchange for influencing the awarding, thereby benefiting entrepreneurs tied to the carousel, such as Héctor Julio Gómez, Emilio Tapia, and members of the Nule Group.

The judicial ruling established that statements and documents confirmed regular meetings between officials and contractors, the early delivery of privileged information regarding contractual conditions, and the preparation of tailored requirements to favor pre-arranged consortia. Moreover, it highlighted that in 2009, there was an internal restructuring at the IDU that facilitated the entry of individuals close to these interests into the awarding committee, such as Claudia Patricia Otálora and Luis Eduardo Montenegro.

In this context, the Criminal Chamber emphasized that Pardo’s active collaboration was evidenced by her explicit acceptance of a financial benefit in exchange for actions contrary to her duties. Testimonies and expert opinions confirmed that the valuation processes were manipulated to favor the consortia involved in the corruption scheme. The tribunal attributed responsibility to Pardo Gaona for permitting and facilitating practices that undermined transparency and legality, core elements of the crime of bribery.

The ruling from the Supreme Court of Justice closes one of the most relevant chapters of the ‘contracting carousel,’ with direct repercussions on public contracting in Bogotá and the country. By affirming the sanction solely for the valuation contracts, the decision reinforces public servants’ obligation to uphold integrity and proper management of state resources.

As a result, the ex-director of the IDU is barred from holding public office, in a pronouncement that also aims to deter collusion between officials and businesses in executing works financed by citizen contributions. Furthermore, the Criminal Chamber’s decision indicates that no further judicial resources will be pursued, solidifying the conviction and setting a precedent for judicial treatment of corruption cases in public administration.

The Supreme Court of Justice highlighted that the sanctioned behaviors constituted a serious violation of the fundamental principles of public service, making it clear that the pursuit of undue benefits has no place in state administrative management.