Laura Sarabia Charged with Three Crimes in Colombia’s Polygraph Case

Colombia's Prosecutor's Office has formally charged former presidential confidant Laura Sarabia with three crimes in connection with a controversial polygraph test administered to a domestic employee. The charges, which include abuse of public office, unlawful coercion, and embezzlement through use, stem from the case involving the disappearance of money from Sarabia's residence in January 2023.

According to the Prosecutor's Office, Sarabia, who was head of the Presidential Office at the time, allegedly used her position to pressure Marelbys Meza, a domestic employee, into undergoing the polygraph test without a court order. The test was conducted at facilities belonging to the Administrative Department of the Presidency (Dapre) in Bogotá. Sarabia reportedly asked her husband to have Meza taken to the residence for the procedure, which took place on January 30, 2023.

The Prosecutor's Office maintains that Sarabia's actions were improper because abuse of public office occurred by ordering the polygraph without the necessary authority. They also allege unlawful coercion due to the power dynamic between Sarabia and Meza, as Meza was economically vulnerable and feared the consequences of losing her job. Additionally, the Prosecutor's Office claims that Sarabia embezzled state resources by using Dapre facilities and public officials to address a personal matter.