Supreme Court confirms 5-year sentence against Epa Colombia and suspension of her social networks
The sentence of 5 years and 2 months in prison against Epa Colombia was confirmed and she is disqualified as an influencer
The Supreme Court of Justice confirmed the sentence of 5 years and 2 months in prison against Daneidy Barrera Rojas, known as Epa Colombia, a well-known influencer and businesswoman in Colombia. Barrera was found guilty of the crimes of disruption in public transport services, instigation to commit crimes for terrorist purposes and damage to another's property.
The origin of the sentence dates back to the social protests of November 2019, when she published a video on social networks destroying a TransMilenio station in Bogotá with a hammer. Although this act was classified as an expression of protest, the authorities determined that it was an apology for crime, according to national and international legislation.
In addition to the prison sentence, the ruling includes a ban of more than five years from working as a content creator or benefiting financially from her social networks. This means that Barrera will not be able to manage her accounts on platforms such as Instagram, where she has 5.2 million followers, and TikTok, where she has 3 million, during the time of her sentence.
Throughout her career, Epa Colombia not only stood out as an influencer, but also built a successful business empire based on the sale of hair products, mainly keratins, and the opening of beauty salons in different cities of the country.
Last Monday, members of the Technical Investigation Corps (CTI) of the Prosecutor's Office went to one of Barrera's beauty salons to execute her arrest. According to the businesswoman on her Instagram account, the arrest was temporarily suspended to allow the presence of her lawyer.
At around 8:30 p.m., the review procedures began, which included taking fingerprints and verifying identity. The Court stressed in its ruling that the purpose of the videos posted was not only to generate followers, but to directly incite the public to commit illegal acts, violating the rights protected by the international framework of freedom of expression.
The suspension of her activity on social networks raises questions about the future of her business, which relies heavily on digital promotion. However, while she serves her sentence, it will be impossible for Epa Colombia to use these platforms, which could have a significant impact on her brand.