While former Foreign Minister Álvaro Leyva has come out to talk about controversial episodes that plague Gustavo Petro’s government and that the United States must investigate, one of her sisters has just become one of the witnesses that the defense of former first lady Verónica Alcocer asked the Prosecutor’s Office to hear after the accusations made against her by the Spanish Eva Ferrer.
The Investigative Unit of EL TIEMPO interviewed for the first time Pilar Leyva Durán, one of Alcocer’s companions on the trip from which according to Ferrer, Petro’s now ex-wife returned with 2.5 million dollars in cash, stuffed in gray suitcases, which she even used for her cousin Mario Fernández Alcocer’s campaign.
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The fast trip
Pilar Leyva Durán, Colombian pianist, was part of the official delegation that traveled, in January 2023, from Bogotá to Caracas together with Verónica Alcocer within a delegation in which the Catalan Manel Grau was also present.
For this reason, the document that Alcocer’s defense – in the hands of criminal lawyer Ricardo Gaviria – filed with the Prosecutor’s Office, asks the accusing body to listen to the testimony of Pilar Leyva, her sister Inés and the former Minister of Culture Jorge Ignacio Zorrowho were also in Caracas that day.
Furthermore, in the legal actions against Ferrer, the criminal Inocencio Meléndez, Mario Fernández’s attorney, mentioned having photographic and film evidence, to which EL TIEMPO had access, in which his relative is seen arriving in Caracas – as she said -, with only a handbag.
Verónica Alcocer, Cilia Flores and Manel Grau, with a briefcase. Photo:THE TIME
Regarding the controversial trip, Pilar Leyva began by assuring EL TIEMPO that she found out about the trip to Venezuela a day before: “They told us that it was a quick trip, we were about 8 or 9 people and they summoned us at 3:30 in the morning at the Catam military base.”
When EL TIEMPO asked him about Alcocer’s companions, he assured: “While we were waiting in a cafeteria in Catam, Mr. Manel Grau arrived and was with us. Then we boarded the plane, but I understand that the first lady was delayed and we had to board without her. We saw her enter the plane when we were already in the passenger cabin. That is why I cannot guarantee if she brought suitcases or if suitcases were taken off the plane. I only saw her with a handbag in the passenger cabin.”
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The regime’s trucks
Manel Grau, Jorge Zorro, Verónica Alcocer, Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores, in Miraflores. Photo:Presidency of the Republic.
According to Pilar Leyva, she did not bring suitcases because they told her that it was a quick trip and that they would return the same day.
“I was with the first lady all the time and accompanied her everywhere, except for a private formal meeting she had with Nicolás Maduro. Only she entered that meeting with the then vice minister Jorge Zorro, They took about 10 to 15 minutes and then they invited us to meet Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores,” said the pianist.
In the photos that the EL TIEMPO Investigative Unit obtained from the event, The Catalan Grau is also seen.
And Pilar Leyva added: “To go to Miraflores for lunch and to greet Maduro, they took us in several vehicles, but the first lady was not with us. “She was picked up by a Venezuelan presidential car.”
Eva Ferrer and the first lady, Verónica Alcocer. Photo:Presidency of the Republic
Pilar Leyva also said that During their tour of cultural centers in Caracas, they only talked about musical topics and how they could replicate that country’s orchestra system in Colombia.
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Arrival in Catam
President Gustavo Petro in Catam. Photo:Jorge Melendez
According to the story of the former chancellor’s sister, when they returned that same day from Venezuela, They did not leave Catam immediately because they were asked to wait for the then president Gustavo Petro.
“We were informed that the presidential plane was about to land with President Petro. We wait for you and greet you. “He came with Laura Sarabia and with my brother Álvaro Leyva, who was still chancellor.”said Pilar Leyva.
This newspaper also communicated with the former vice minister of Culture Jorge Zorro, to ask him about the trip to Caracas, who also said that he found out about the trip a day before.
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Zorro’s version
The former Minister of Culture, Jorge Ignacio Zorro. Photo:Ministry of Culture
“It was not something planned on our part, but there in Venezuela everything was very organized“said Zorro.
And he confirmed the presence of Grau.
“I did accompany the first lady to greet Maduro. It was a protocol event. Nicolás Maduro welcomed us. There was no talk of money, weapons or drugs. I don’t know where that information came from,” Zorro told EL TIEMPO.
Furthermore, he assured that he did not see anyone carrying suitcases: “On our return to Catam we did not go through security filters because no one had suitcases. Then we were all gathered in the large waiting room that is available for officials waiting for the president.”
Zorro also assured that he has not been contacted by Alcocer’s lawyers to testify, but stated that after Alcocer’s statements Eva Ferrer had a telephone communication with Alcocer in which she made herself available to tell the authorities details of the trip to Caracas.
While authorities investigate, Eva Ferrer gave a statement this Wednesday, October 21, before the Prosecutor’s Office virtually. And although details of the proceedings have not been revealed, his lawyer had already announced that Ferrer would provide evidence of the accusations against his former friend.
INVESTIGATIVE UNIT
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