Fernando Botero Zea

Fernando Botero Zea (born 23 August 1956) is a Colombian politician who served in several public positions, including as Defense Minister under President Ernesto Samper, for whom he was campaign manager in his presidential run. Botero was elected as a member of the Colombian Congress for the Colombian Liberal Party. He is a son of the internationally recognized painter and sculptor Fernando Botero. He was convicted of financial issues associated with the campaign's having accepted money from the Cali Cartel, and served nearly three years in prison. Losing an appeal in 2007 on a second charge, Botero is staying in Mexico, where his citizenship prevents him from being extradited.

Early life and education

Born in Mexico City, Fernando Botero Zea is the first son of the renowned artist Fernando Botero and Gloria Zea, who later became the Colombian Minister of Culture. He has a sister Lina and brother Juan Carlos. His mother served as Minister of Culture of Colombia. His parents divorced in 1960 and each remarried.

Botero graduated from the Universidad de Los Andes with a degree in Political Science. In the 1980s, he attended Harvard University's Business School and Kennedy School, where he obtained joint master's degrees in Business and Public Administration.

Career

Botero was elected to Bogota's City Council. Later he was elected as a Liberal Party member of the Colombian Congress.

In 1993–1994, he worked for Ernesto Samper as one of his campaign managers in his run for president. After Samper was elected, he appointed Botero as Minister of Defense. Botero was charged with financial improprieties due to poor handling of a contract to import a large shipment of assault rifles from Israel.

Campaign scandal

Shortly after the presidential victory, Andrés Pastrana, Samper's opponent and future successor, accused Samper of having received campaign donations from the Cali Cartel, in the amount of $6 million US dollars. The Attorney General, Alfonso Valdivieso Sarmiento, personally led the investigation. Valdivieso is a cousin of the late Luis Carlos Galán, a charismatic presidential candidate assassinated in 1989 by the Medellín Cartel for his political views. Galán favoured the extradition of drug dealers to the United States for prosecution.

Valdivieso's investigation revealed connections between the Cali drug cartel and top figures of Colombian society, including politicians, journalists, athletes, army and police officers, and artists, among others. As a result, numerous politicians and top members of the government were indicted. Botero was arrested in connection to the investigation and was charged with conspiracy to gain wealth illicitly. On October 3, 1996 Botero was convicted and sentenced to 5 years and 3 months in jail for illicit wealth gain in favour of third parties. He served 30 months and was released on February 12, 1998.

In 2002, Botero was charged with the theft of more than 800 million pesos from Samper's presidential campaign. He invested the money in a farm property in Tabio, a town 20 km north of Bogotá. The national prosecutor sentenced him to 36 months in jail. Botero won an appeal before a Bogota judge.

In 2003 the High Tribunal of Bogotá confirmed the charges, and Botero appealed the decision. In January 2007 the Supreme Court of Justice confirmed the Tribunal verdict.^[1] Botero is currently living in Mexico. He is a Mexican citizen and the country does not extradite its nationals.

In 2009 he affirmed that he would stay in Mexico and not return to Colombia.^[2]

Marriage and family

Botero is married and has two children.

References

Further reading

• "Fernando Botero: Interview", El Tiempo, 2007 (Spanish)