Colombian presidential candidate Iván Cepeda announced a criminal complaint against his electoral rival, Abelardo De La Espriella, over alleged irregularities involving the management of resources from the country’s healthcare system. The allegations focus on the actions of the law firm representing the now-defunct Saludvida health insurer.
According to Cepeda, De La Espriella Lawyers was retained by Saludvida back in 2018, at a time when the company faced oversight from health regulators and eventually transitioned into liquidation. The left-leaning politician alleges that the agreement involved healthcare system assets, raising doubts about the legitimacy of deploying those monies to pay for legal representation.
The legal action brought forward by Cepeda outlines five suspected infractions: violation of fiduciary responsibilities, corruption within the private sector, procedural deception, embezzlement of state monies, and the unauthorized diversion of public assets toward unofficial ends. The presidential hopeful contends that these purported anomalies transpired amidst a severe operational and monetary downturn experienced by Saludvida.
Cepeda also pointed to a transaction involving Saludvida’s assets. According to his allegations, during the insurer’s crisis, several properties were transferred to a company called Lithia Investment S.A.S. The transaction was reportedly valued at hundreds of billions of Colombian pesos.
The left-wing politician additionally argued that the measures under scrutiny impacted the policyholders of Saludvida. Based on his formal grievance, upwards of 1.6 million clients suffered consequences stemming from the corporate crisis prior to the eventual liquidation of the insurance provider.
The allegations come just days before the second round of Colombia’s presidential election and add to the growing confrontation between the two candidates. Cepeda had previously made accusations against De La Espriella concerning alleged links to paramilitary groups.
De La Espriella has rejected the accusations made by his rival, arguing that they are unfounded. His team has defended the lawyer’s professional activities as being conducted within the framework of the law and has characterized the complaints as part of the political dispute between the two presidential candidates.
Source: Página/12 — https://www.pagina12.com.ar/2026/06/15/cepeda-denuncio-a-de-la-espriella-por-presunta-corrupcion-en-el-sistema-de-salud/
