Medellín Lottery Winner of $16B pesos is the Deputy Manager’s Wife

By Russ Warner, Chief Operating Officer—

A lottery scandal in Colombia sparked investigations, resignations, and public distrust; experts urge using credibility tech like EyeDetect to prevent future corruption.

In May, a major scandal rocked Colombia’s gaming industry. Luisa Jaramillo—the wife of Rubén Callejas, Deputy Manager of the Medellín Lottery—won the grand prize of 16 billion Colombian pesos. What raised even more eyebrows was how quickly the winning number was announced following the televised drawing, triggering serious concerns about the integrity of the process.

In response, Colombia’s national gaming regulator, Coljuegos, along with the National Council for Games of Chance (CNJSA), launched a formal audit of the Medellín Lottery, which is run by the regional government of Antioquia.

As the controversy unfolded, Rubén Callejas resigned. President Gustavo Petro called for urgent disciplinary and criminal investigations, and an oversight team was dispatched to Medellín to examine the lottery’s internal procedures thoroughly.

Incidents like this don’t just call into question the fairness of state-run lotteries—they erode public trust in government institutions. The perception of corruption can be just as damaging as corruption itself, weakening civic engagement and undermining confidence in the system.

At Converus, we believe prevention is essential. Credibility assessment technologies like EyeDetect® and VerifEye® can routinely test the integrity of employees working in lotteries and other public sector entities. These tools can help identify dishonesty before it escalates into a national scandal.

Implementing credibility assessment tech doesn’t just deter misconduct—it sends a strong message that integrity matters. Adopting tools like EyeDetect® and VerifEye® can make a real difference in a country struggling with institutional distrust.

Source: SBC News
Photo by: Steve Sawuschz