They investigate if ‘Víctor’, the man in the audio at Ecopetrol, has house arrest and is the same person from the meeting at ‘Papa Smurf’s’ house

The 43-minute audio revealed by EL TIEMPO’s Investigative Unit this weekend, in which a distribution of positions in the state company and million-dollar contracts during the Petro government is discussed, continues to generate investigations not only in Ecopetrol but also in the Prosecutor’s Office.

At the breakfast, which was recorded, they identify Manel Grau, the Catalan personal friend of former president Gustavo Petro and his former first lady, Verónica Alcocer; Juan Carlos Hurtado, until a few days ago, acting president of Ecopetrol; and a shady contractor named ‘Víctor’.

The latter is heard talking about moving resumes for high positions in Ecopetrol, about the dealings of the Catalan Manel Grau, and even makes who would be Juan Carlos Hurtado acknowledge that he arrived at Ecopetrol because of the Catalan.

“But I repeat, without you taking it the wrong way, do you consider and acknowledge that Manel did some lobbying on your behalf?” says Víctor. And the voice attributed to Hurtado responds: “Yes. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be here.”

However, ‘Víctor’ insists:“I don’t want you to take it the wrong way, but I want to comment the following. I am the person who received the resume of this Mr. Jorge, the so-called ‘Bachi’. I receive his resume, I am the one who initially pushed it, with Manel.”

And he adds:“There is no objection from this team for Mr. Julián to participate in business opportunities that may arise and that are within his reach. We don’t want to become a thorn in the side, we don’t want to be competition for that guy or for Ricardo. But let it be clear that there was very good influence from Manel in your achievement, in reaching this position which will be provisional, because, let’s say the main goal to be achieved is for you to take over the position of this Mr. Osorio.”

EL TIEMPO’s Investigative Unit established that one of the attendees at the breakfast has already fully identified ‘Victor’.

Also, it is being investigated if he is the same person who was in February 2022 at Diego Marín’s house, alias Papá Pitufo or ‘the smuggling czar’ in Guaymaral, where 500 million pesos were handed over in a box to the Catalan Xavier Vendrell for the Petro campaign.

And although it has been said that his identity is Víctor Gutiérrez, EL TIEMPO established that this is not his real name.

In fact, it is being verified if he is the same businessman from the Sanandresito sector who is serving 7 years of sentence at home under house arrest for procedural fraud and document falsification.

Therefore, it is being investigated how he left his home to attend the breakfast where contracts and quotas in Ecopetrol were discussed.

The issue gains relevance because in the recording revealed by EL TIEMPO, ‘Víctor’ talks about the Petro campaign.

“Ricardo is Manel’s great friend, from the campaign, from the cause, and they have reached some agreements. That’s why those two managers are there, the drilling one and the construction one, because they have tried to respect those quotas for Manel. Now, we are present here because we have been part of a presidential campaign,” ‘Víctor’ is heard saying in the audio.

Sources close to the February meeting at ‘Papá Pitufo’s’ house told EL TIEMPO that ‘Víctor’ is close to the so-called ‘smuggling czar’.

Also, the Prosecutor’s Office has already questioned one of the attendees at that meeting about ‘Víctor’.

It was even confirmed that the subject was at the same meeting with then-candidate Gustavo Petro at a hotel in the area of Parque de la 93.

(Check out all the articles from EL TIEMPO’s Investigative Unit here)

“One of the witnesses said that when they arrived at Mr. Diego Marín’s house, ‘Victor’ was already there. And it has drawn attention that in the domicile record where he is serving house arrest, it is in a condominium in Guaymaral, very close to where ‘Pitufo’s’ house was,” a source familiar with the investigation told EL TIEMPO.

EL TIEMPO contacted ‘Víctor’s’ lawyer, but he said he knew nothing about the recording issue and that he was in Neiva and his client in Bogotá.

INVESTIGATIVE UNIT

u.investigativa@eltiempo.com

@UnvestigativaET

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