The news of the death of Vivian Polanía, the first municipal criminal judge with a guaranteed control role in Cúcuta, caused a stir on social networks after learning the news on the afternoon of December 17th.
La Togada gained national recognition for her unorthodox performances in the hearings, which led to her being harshly questioned by her colleagues on aspects related to the way she dressed or the publications she made on her social networks, as she had no qualms about flaunting her body and figure on digital platforms – a product of her love for CrossFita fact that raised doubts about his suitability for the position he held.
One of the most sensational scandals occurred on September 15, 2023, when a video was broadcast in which she took part in an erotic show that took place during an institutional party at the Palace of Justice in Cúcuta, an event that put her in the spotlight of the entire country for the second time.
Before the party took place, Polanía dealt with a controversy within the justice sector. In November 2022, she was suspended for three months after appearing half-naked and smoking during a virtual hearing, a situation that exposed her to public attention and earned her the nickname “Colombia’s Sexy Judge.”
After examining the case, the judicial disciplinary commission imposed a three-month ban on Polanía for committing disciplinary offenses related to the dress code. However, in February 2023 the decision was overturned as it was considered that the arguments supporting the decision were not entirely clear, so she was reinstated in her position.
In the months that followed, the judge continued to generate controversy by posting sensual images and videos on her official accounts, sparking a debate in Colombian society about the suitability of her public image for jurisprudence.
On September 15, 2023, as part of the celebration of the Day of Love and Friendship, a “color party” was held in the auditorium of the Francisco de Paula Santander Palace of Justice in Cúcuta. In the video that circulated on social networks, Poland She appeared in a white dress while a man, identified by the judge as a waiter at a restaurant specializing in unusually shaped waffles, danced suggestively with her and offered her a waffle in the shape of a male sexual organ.
The celebratory atmosphere also included the presence of other judicial officers who recorded and celebrated the scene. The images, which showed food packaging with the logo of the Supreme Council of Justice, They sparked outrage at the use of public facilities for this type of activity and at the sexual connotation many attributed to the show.
The rapid distribution of the video triggered an immediate response from legal authorities. The Norte de Santander Justice Section Council issued a statement calling on officials to respect the public spaces of the Palace of Justice and follow clear guidelines for their use.
For its part, the National Commission for Judicial Discipline opened an investigation to determine whether the participants’ behavior violated the rules applicable to members of the judiciary and whether the facilities were used inappropriately. As a result, Polanía was provisionally suspended for three months on the grounds that her actions jeopardized the dignity of the administration of justice and the trust of citizens.
In this sense, the authorities recalled that, although eroticism in itself does not constitute a disciplinary offense, the act is incompatible with the prudence and austerity required of those who administer justice.
In later interviews, Polanía defended his participation in the party and denied that the event had a sexual connotation. “It’s fun, so it has a sexual connotation, it’s not true”stated in Without shopping cart from W radioweeks after the scandal.
According to his story, the celebration took place outside of working hours and consisted of an integration between the courts, where each group had to make a lively appearance. The judge explained that the man who danced with her was not a stripper, as he initially claimed to be, but a waiter at a waffle restaurant, and that the presentation was hired by her as part of the dynamic of the event. Polanía also denied authorizing the consumption of alcohol and asserted that the video had been altered to harm her.
Additionally, he claimed to have been the victim of harassment and threats at work and revealed that his mental health was so compromised that he was placed on medical leave due to depression. “I’m off work for seven days due to depression. I have depression syndrome,” she explained. and claimed that the persecution against him has intensified as his following on social networks has increased due to the neglect of the camera at the 2022 hearing.
The recording sparked a heated debate in public opinion and on social networks. While some defended the officers’ right to privacy and questioned the proportionality of the sanction, others considered that the behavior of Polanía and those attending the event violated the dignity of justice.
Attorney Cristian Lean explained in Snail radio The “The courthouse and its public areas cannot be transformed into a burlesque house as seen in the video.”. The judicial authorities emphasized the need to set clear limits on the use of institutional spaces and the behavior of public officials.
Amid the controversy, Polanía reiterated that the essence of judicial work lies not in physical spaces, but in the integrity of the decisions made by the judiciary. “As soon as I take off my toga, I’m a different person, like any of you. People don’t know me. I’m an extremely lonely person.”stated in W radio.
However, the judge served her sentence and returned to work in 2024.
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