Mayor from Colombia’s north claims De la Espriella’s armed men intimidated him

Sincelejo Mayor Yahir Acuña alleged during a meeting with Colombia's President Abelardo de la Espriella that armed men intimidated him. In a video message, Acuña stated that armed men positioned themselves behind him while De la Espriella accused him of corruption and threatened to cut municipal funds. Acuña's comments were shared on the president's social media pages, where he described Acuña as "a person who, like you, faces 13 corruption charges" and accused him of embezzlement.

The president added that Acuña was set to stand trial in the Supreme Court of Justice for illicit enrichment. Acuña became indignant, saying "I will take care of it, and to take care of it I have to keep it away from your control." He demanded that the president show the full video, which he claimed had been edited and digitally manipulated.

Acuña's allegations were supported by investigative journalist Laura Ardila, who said sources from the province confirmed them. The sources said they left the scene terrified, fearing they might be named. They claimed Acuña was surrounded by heavily armed men in civilian clothing, that the president's office was recording the entire time, and that the scene appeared to have been staged in advance to go viral.

Acuña pointed out that the corruption investigations against him had existed before the presidential campaign during which De la Espriella's campaign may have violated electoral laws. The mayor also said he had been approached by De la Espriella's parents to support the far-right president's campaign and that local print shops may have received unreported campaign financing.

Acuña asked the oversight agencies to investigate potential campaign expenses in Sincelejo that had not been reported to the National Electoral Council, as well as whether the president had ties to the now-defunct paramilitary organization AUC.