The Prosecutor’s Office of Colombia is advancing a process of asset forfeiture that affects more than 300 stores of the underwear brand Lili Pink, as part of an investigation for smuggling and money laundering. As part of these actions, some of these premises will remain under provisional administration of the state while the process advances.
This Monday, the Technical Investigation Corps (CTI) of the Prosecutors’ Office initiated operations in those establishments within the framework of the inquiries it carries out for the alleged commission of those crimes, which led investigators to raid the commercial stores, and at first, some arrests were reported.
The premises investigated are located in different cities in the country. The measures would cover goods such as commercial establishments, real estate, and vehicles that would allegedly belong to the same company indicated as being involved in illicit activities.
Lili Pink issues a statement
This same Monday, the firm issued a statement addressed to the media and to public opinion, in which it assured that, as is of public knowledge, “the company currently attends an administrative process before legal and regulatory entities, which is being managed in a direct and responsible manner by our team.”
As part of this process, Lili Pink added, “some formal actions have been advanced by the authorities,” without specifying which and much less admitting actions such as the raids and the arrests reported by media such as El Tiempo.
“We are working in a coordinated manner with legal advisers and the corresponding entities, ensuring the adequate handling of the situation within the legal framework,” the statement adds. “To the competent authorities, the Prosecutor General of the Nation and the Society of Special Assets (SAE), we make a call to protect the Colombian brand that, for more than 20 years, has consolidated itself as a national and international reference, generating thousands of direct and indirect jobs.”
The women’s lingerie firm was born in 2006, founded by brothers David and Max Abadi. It was born as a classic alternative for women over 35 years old, and later it shaped and expanded its offer for a more varied public. It began to operate in the Colombian market with its first store in Bogota, in the neighborhood of Toberin, in the north of the city.
Lili Pink owned stores rose to 50 and had a presence in the main chain stores and national distributors. Today, it has 2,300 employees and its production is carried out in Bogota and China, where the company develops its design proposals.
The statement ends by saying that “it is fundamental to safeguard that legacy and guarantee the labor stability of our collaborators, while we advance with responsibility in the legal instances necessary to recover its management. We reiterate our commitment to all our collaborators, clients, and strategic allies, and we thank their trust and accompaniment. Any relevant information will be communicated promptly through the official channels. We remain attentive to any concern.”
In fact, the goods that are seized by the authorities would pass to the control of SAE, which would be in charge of administering them while the judicial process advances. The purpose of the actions of the Prosecutor’s Office is to maintain the value of the assets and avoid that they are used in illicit activities. Until now, there has not been a pronouncement from the Prosecutors Office because the process of asset forfeiture that affects Lili Pink is ongoing.