A disciplinary complaint has been filed against the Chamber’s representative in Bogotá, María del Mar Pizarro Rodríguez, to the Public Prosecutor’s Office due to an alleged conflict of interest in discussing the “Law of the Night”, which seeks to regulate nighttime activity in the city.
The Citizen Defense Network confirms that the parliamentarian would have participated in the scenarios of legislative deliberations regarding bars and nightclubs, despite the fact that he appeared, according to the complaint, as the main shareholder of the Before Club in the town of Chapinero.
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The document submitted to the Attorney General’s Office states: “The Congresswoman’s legacy connection with the regulated sector, her active participation in preparatory deliberations and the direct impact that the regulations under discussion may have on her institution, allow us to conclude that the three elements that define a legislative conflict of interest are fully present: private interest, present benefit, and direct impact.”
The text of the complaint cites Articles 182 and 209 of the Political Constitution and Article 56 of Law 1952 of 2019, where it is classified as a very serious crime not to declare a disability when there is an obligation to do so due to the possibility of a conflict of interest.
The so-called “Night Law” has not yet been formally introduced to Congress, Although technical tables were held aimed at defining operating and security standards and formalizing the night entertainment sector. This sector has sought economic recovery after the impact it suffered during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The “Before” club became important on the public agenda due to the case of student Jaime Esteban Moreno Jaramillo, who died after being attacked by a group of masked people after leaving the nightclub, on October 31. The incident led to arrests and a criminal investigation, while the region’s authorities ordered the club to be temporarily closed for three days, after carrying out health and operational checks.
The complaint requests the Public Prosecution to investigate whether the actress failed to comply by declaring herself unable to interfere in the preparation of the list, in accordance with Law 1952 of 2019. The complainant finds that there are “reasonable doubts about the transparency” of the Congresswoman and points to contradictory accounts about the ownership and management of the Before Club.as well as for their participation in technical discussions.
The document indicates that on November 5, the actress publicly admitted that she is 100% owner of the club, even though she is not currently managing it. He later confirmed, in a message posted on social media, that the club is managed by a legal entity in which it is the sole shareholder, and that the company is registered with the Chamber of Commerce. According to the complaint, this fact does not separate it from a potential conflict of interest because it maintains control and potential direct benefit from approving or amending regulations for the sector.
To support the facts, the Citizen Defense Network requested the following to be collected:
- Certificates from the House of Representatives proving the presence or absence of an obstacle.
- Copies of minutes, videos, and records of technical dockets, hearings, and meetings related to the legal initiative.
- Certificates relating to the ownership and representation of Before Club or companies linked to the night sector in the Bogotá Chamber of Commerce.
- Documents from the Secretary of Government and the Office of the Mayor of Chapinero related to licenses, inspections or sanctions imposed on the institution related to María del Mar Pizarro or its companies.
It is also requested, if a disciplinary violation is proven, that the penalty of dismissal and general deprivation be imposed, as stipulated in Law No. 1952 of 2019.
María del Mar Pizarro has publicly stated that there is no conflict of interest, claiming that the law has not yet been filed and that her business has no contracts with the state and does not operate as the owner of an enterprise, thus ruling out a conflict with her parliamentary duties. The actress stated that she only participated in the technical schedules that did not officially start the legislative process for the project known as the “Night Law,” and confirmed her willingness not to sign or vote on the proposal in the event that it could benefit her directly.
The Public Prosecutor’s Office is currently studying whether to accept the complaint and will initiate the necessary procedures in accordance with its internal priorities and the documents submitted by the parties. The development of the investigation will depend on the procedural actions undertaken by the Disciplinary Oversight Authority.
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