The Attorney General’s Office sanctioned the former mayor of Cartagena, William Dau Chamatt (2020-2023), with dismissal and general disqualification for a term of twelve years, for using his position to participate in partisan activities and intervene in political controversies for electoral purposes during 2022.

In a first instance ruling, the Disciplinary Delegate of Judgment 4 indicated that the then mayor intervened in political controversies by expressing his support, in an audio broadcast by the WhatsApp application, in favor of two candidates who were campaigning to occupy a seat in the Congress of the Republic in the period 2022-2026, conduct prohibited for public servants.

The control body indicated that the content of the audio, although it corresponded to an apparently private conversation, “acquires a clear political character, since the then mayor of Cartagena expressed affinity and support for candidates identified with a specific coalition, at a time immediately prior to the 2022 legislative elections.”

For the Attorney General’s Office, the quality of the disciplinary subject and the electoral context in which the expressions were uttered transformed the message into an act of public significance, by projecting an institutionally relevant political position to the citizens. “This is not, therefore, a mere manifestation of private opinion, but rather a communicative act of authority with the potential for political impact,” stated the Public Ministry.

Due to these events, the Attorney General’s Office indicated that the then local leader violated the principles of neutrality, impartiality and administrative morality, pillars of public office, and described his conduct as a very serious offense committed by way of fraud.

The first instance ruling can be appealed by the now sanctioned before the Disciplinary Chamber of Judgment of Popularly Elected Public Servants of the Attorney General’s Office.