The number of years in which he would be deprived of liberty was known.
News Colombia.
The former general Rodolfo Palomino He is in the eye of the hurricane after being sentenced to seven years in prison for influence peddling. The Supreme Court of Justice considered that, in his capacity as director of the Police, Palomino used his position to pressure a prosecutor with the aim of benefiting a businessman. This ruling has generated mixed reactions about integrity at the highest levels of national security.
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According to the judicial investigation, Palomino held a meeting with prosecutor Sonia Lucero Velásquez, during which he tried to persuade her to suspend an arrest warrant against businessman Luis Gonzalo Gallo Restrepo, whom he described as “a good person” with political connections. The prosecutor recorded that conversation, a key element in the case that ended up tipping the balance of the Court.
The Supreme Court concluded that the former general abused his authority and crossed the line by intervening in judicial decisions to favor someone with power. For the high court, these actions constitute an illegitimate use of the position, which compromises ethics and institutional transparency. The sentence could mean several years in prison for Palomino.
Palomino surrendered to the authorities and is currently in the Prosecutor’s Office bunker.
#ATTENTION | General (r) Rodolfo Palomino, sentenced to seven years in prison for influence peddling, surrenders to justice. At this moment, the former director of the National Police is in the Prosecutor’s Office bunker. pic.twitter.com/6VhIO0clS4
— Red+ Noticias (@RedMasNoticias) November 24, 2025
The case has revived the debate about the responsibility of the high command of the public force and their possible involvement in networks of political power. Citizen organizations and some sectors of public opinion have demanded a deeper investigation and exemplary sanctions for those, like Palomino, who apparently abused their authority to influence judicial processes.
Palomino’s conviction also leaves a clear message: justice considers it unacceptable that high-ranking figures use their influence to obstruct the course of the law. Now, the expectation is on the next legal instances, where it will be decided if his sentence is upheld and if he will really pay prison for his actions.
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