David Murcia Withdraws Accusations Against De la Espriella

David Murcia has retracted the severe accusations he leveled against former lawyer Abelardo de la Espriella during the Colombian presidential race. The retraction, submitted on September 23 to the Prosecutor's Office, comes after De la Espriella filed a complaint concerning Murcia's statements. Murcia, convicted for his part in the DMG money-taking scheme, asserted that his claims did not align with real events and were tied to expectations, as he believed, had been raised by factions allied with the former government regarding a possible release from prison.

The letter to the Prosecutor's Office detailed the retraction of the accusations Murcia made in February to journalist Daniel Coronell, when De la Espriella was running for president. Murcia denied claims that De la Espriella had misappropriated around 5 billion pesos (approximately US$1.5 million) in professional fees paid by Murcia. He clarified that the fees were compensation for legal services provided to the DMG Holding group and in his defense, with no misappropriation of funds.

Moreover, Murcia refuted allegations that De la Espriella had solicited 760 million pesos (about US$237,000) to influence lawmakers in Congress and offer money to promote transportation-related legislation. He also denied that De la Espriella had received any of the seized DMG funds, nor did he support claims that the lawyer intervened against other defense attorneys defending Murcia in Colombia and the United States. The retraction also addressed the lawyer's alleged influence on other legal proceedings regarding Murcia.

Murcia attributed his earlier accusations to expectations related to a potential role as a peace facilitator and the prospect of being released from prison, which he believed stemmed from sectors close to the previous administration. His lengthy incarceration, he stated, had influenced his mental state during the interview and the subsequent complaint. Murcia acknowledged that his accusations did not correspond to actual events.