Colombia’s finance minister Ricardo Bonilla stepped down on Wednesday amid a widening corruption scandal that is threatening to derail the leftist government’s reform agenda.
Bonilla, a long-term ally of leftist President Gustavo Petro, had become embroiled in a probe by the attorney-general’s office into the alleged misuse of funds from the country’s disaster risk agency.
“I have always said that I respect the work of the attorney-general’s office and that I would not use my position in the cabinet to defend myself,” Bonilla, who denies wrongdoing, said in his resignation letter that was published by Colombian media. “I did not buy silence, nor votes from congressmen?.?.?.?nor did I commit any crime for personal gain.”