Colombia’s Supreme Court has authorized the arrest of Senator Martha Peralta as part of its ongoing probe into the corruption scandal linked to the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD), considered one of the country’s most prominent public corruption cases in recent years. The ruling was issued to guarantee the senator’s presence before the court during the judicial proceedings connected to the investigation.
According to the investigation, Peralta is under scrutiny for her purported role in the questionable allocation of public contracts tied to disaster risk management initiatives, with prosecutors and the court assessing evidence that ranges from witness statements to documents related to the supposed steering of contracts in the department of La Guajira, while the senator has repeatedly rejected any misconduct and insists the accusations against her lack merit.
The arrest order comes amid a broader judicial effort to clarify the responsibilities of public officials and lawmakers allegedly involved in the UNGRD case. The scandal, which first emerged over irregular contracts and the management of emergency resources, has expanded to include several current and former officials, making it one of the largest corruption investigations in Colombia in recent years.
After the court issued its ruling, Peralta was placed in custody as the case proceeds. Her legal team attempted to contest the detention through available appeals, insisting the measure was unwarranted, yet the proceedings continue while the Supreme Court moves forward with its investigation.
The case continues to attract considerable political scrutiny, with investigators working to clarify the scope of the alleged corruption network and the involvement attributed to each person under inquiry. Authorities have emphasized that the judicial proceedings will move forward in compliance with Colombian law while safeguarding the rights of all parties concerned.
Source: EL PAÍS + https://elpais.com/america-colombia/2026-06-19/la-corte-suprema-ordena-la-captura-de-la-congresista-martha-peralta-por-el-escandalo-de-corrupcion-de-la-ungrd.html
