Colombia Court Grants Bail to Iván Name on 9 October

On 9 October, Colombia's Supreme Court granted bail to former Senate and House leaders Iván Name and Andrés Calle. Their bribery trial had not begun 12 months after the charges became final, the legal deadline for their case. The two men are accused of accepting bribes linked to Colombia's disaster-relief agency in exchange for supporting the previous administration's reforms.

The court's decision was made by the Special First Instance Chamber, which focuses on members of Congress. In a statement, the court cited the defence lawyers' request in granting bail. The ruling, Auto AEP140-2026, follows the older criminal procedure code, Article 365 of Law 600 of 2000, which allows bail when the trial hasn't started six months after charges are finalized.

In this case, the deadline doubled to 12 months due to the requirement for evidence from abroad. Iván Name and Calle had been in custody since 7 May 2025. The court stated that the delay was not due to negligence or defense tactics, having heard 12 witnesses and gathered evidence during this time. Bail is set at 10 monthly minimum wages, or 17,509,050 pesos (approximately US$5,400), payable in cash or through insurance.

Both men must also sign a written commitment and provide their whereabouts. Failure to comply could result in fines and the loss of bail. The case stems from the UNGRD, Colombia's national disaster risk management unit, which allegedly received bribes in October 2023 for pension and health reforms. The money allegedly came from a loan repaid through a contract for 40 water trucks in La Guajira.

Iván Name and Calle deny the accusations and are presumed innocent until proven guilty. A court has also barred Name from Congress for life due to his absences during pension reform debates. The bail amount is based on an approximate exchange rate of 3,237 pesos to the US dollar on 10 October 2026. In April, the same court had denied bail, stating the deadline was 12 months, not six.

The Supreme Court's Criminal Cassation Chamber upheld this decision on 22 July. Pending evidence includes testimony from Carlos Ramón González, who served in the presidency's administrative department under Petro and is currently in Nicaragua. The ruling does not affect tourism or travel in Colombia. The case highlights the slow pace of criminal trials for Colombian politicians, even in high-profile corruption cases.