They were illegal demands: contractors who denounced corruption of a Chinese company in charge of the construction of the metro speak in SEMANA

A video obtained by Semana has surfaced showing a Chinese businessman linked to the Metro Line 1 consortium in Bogotá accepting cash payments allegedly tied to extortion. The footage, now in the possession of the Public Prosecutor’s Office, captures a meeting between representatives of a Colombian subcontractor and officials from the Chinese company China Harbour Engineering Company Limited Colombia (CHEC), which is part of the consortium responsible for constructing the city's first subway line. The incident took place in April 2026 in the Teusaquillo district, where the former offices of CHEC were located before being converted into a hotel with oriental-themed signage. The video shows the exchange occurring in the office of CHEC, now repurposed as a hotel. It depicts a conversation between a Colombian contractor and a Chinese official, who appears to be handling the transaction. The dialogue is conducted in English, with the Colombian representative explaining the need to settle outstanding accounts and invoices amounting to billions of pesos. At one point, the contractor retrieves a black bag from his briefcase and hands it over to the Chinese official. The man in question, later identified in the complaint as Yang, the commercial manager of CHEC, begins counting stacks of cash, taking approximately ten minutes to tally the sum. According to the footage, the transaction involves 60 million pesos in cash, distributed in bundles of five million each. Yang, who does not speak Spanish, counts the money with precision, demonstrating familiarity with such procedures. After completing the count, he writes down the transaction in his notebook, seemingly documenting a receipt. The note indicates pending payments owed to the Chinese side totaling 960 million pesos. However, the Colombian contractors deny owing this amount, asserting instead that they were seeking payment for invoices that had been marked in red by the Chinese firm. The video lasts 26 minutes and begins with the entry of the individuals into the office. The scene unfolds with the two men seated at a table, engaged in discussion. A third person, likely another official from CHEC, is present during the exchange. This individual collects the bundles of cash and places them back into the same black bag from which they were taken. As the conversation progresses, the three individuals stand up, shake hands, and exit the room. The video ends with the third person quickly leaving the office with the bag containing the cash. The incident has sparked a formal investigation by the Public Prosecutor’s Office, which has received the video as evidence. The case highlights ongoing concerns regarding corruption within major infrastructure projects in Bogotá, particularly those involving international consortia. The Metro Line 1 project, valued at billions of pesos, has faced delays and allegations of mismanagement in the past. The current situation underscores the challenges of overseeing large-scale public works in a context where financial transparency remains a contentious issue. The involvement of CHEC, a subsidiary of the Chinese state-owned enterprise China Harbour Engineering Company, adds complexity to the case. While the company denies any wrongdoing, the video presents a clear visual record of the alleged transaction. Further details will emerge as the investigation proceeds, potentially leading to legal action against those implicated. For now, the footage stands as a critical piece of evidence in what could become a high-profile case of corruption in Colombia's public sector.