Miguel Quintero ordered to house arrest in AMVA corruption case

A Medellín judge ordered house arrest for Miguel Quintero Calle, brother of former Medellín mayor Daniel Quintero, on charges of embezzlement and improper interest in contracting. The ruling came after weeks of preliminary hearings before the 27th guarantee control judge.

The case involves the alleged irregular steering of three contracts from the Metropolitan Area of the Aburrá Valley (AMVA) to the Itagüí Fire Department for COVID-19 protective equipment between 2021 and 2023. Prosecutors say more than COP 2.4 billion was diverted through kickbacks initially set at 20% and later reduced to 15% of contract values.

“There is reasonable inference of authorship of the imputed crimes.”

The same judge declined to impose a detention measure on Sebastián Ortega, son of former congressman William de Jesús Ortega, allowing him to remain free during the process. The judge found reasonable inference of authorship for both defendants but distinguished their level of participation and flight risk.

Three other individuals were previously charged on September 15: former AMVA administrative and financial subdirector Álvaro Alonso Villada García, contractor Vanessa Álvarez Restrepo, and former Itagüí Fire Department chief Misael Alberto Cadavid. The investigation is led by prosecutor Magda Sofía Ramírez.

The total value of six contracts under scrutiny reaches COP 17.656 billion, with prosecutors alleging COP 2.481 billion was embezzled. Of that amount, Quintero allegedly received COP 1.653 billion and Ortega COP 133 million.