by A controversial Colombian judge caught smoking in her underwear during a Zoom hearing has been suspended, according to local news.
The incident was brought to the attention of Colombia’s National Commission for Judicial Ethics after one of the call’s lawyers reported the alleged impropriety of Judge Vivian Polania.
The 33-second video clip appears to show the Cucuta judge in a top and underwear while puffing on a cigarette and debating bail during the virtual hearing for a man being held for a car bomb terror attack should .
The judge has received repeated warnings for posting pictures in scantily clad outfits with clothing discount codes on her personal Instagram account.
In response to those earlier warnings, Ms Polania responded by claiming that she was simply expressing herself as a “braless and open-minded” person.
“Not all judges, attorneys and other government officials are created equal. What I wear and show on my social media is my choice and I won’t change anything,” she said at the time.
This time, however, the repercussions dished out against the Colombian judge are not due to how she behaves online in her personal space, but rather to her professional online space.
Colombia’s National Commission on Judicial Ethics, in a written decision on Ms Polania’s suspension, which will be in effect until February 2023, said that while the courtroom was virtual, she still had “all the necessary amenities” to make herself presentable.
“It is a duty of this commission not to repeat the judge’s contempt for the appointment to her office and the contempt she has shown towards her colleagues in the prosecution, prosecution and defense,” the commission wrote in its suspension decision.
“We find no justification for the judge presenting herself in such deplorable conditions, when she had the facilities of her own home and all the conveniences necessary to attend a hearing appropriately and with the respect such a hearing deserves to prepare a public hearing.”
Speaking to a local radio station about the incident, Ms Polania argued that the video clip circulating online was misleading as she claimed she only lay down because she suffered an anxiety attack during the procedure. El País reported.
Ms Polania also claimed during the interview with Blu Radio that for years she was bullied by other judges because of her online behavior, adding that those people allegedly told her “if I didn’t change the way I was, they would.” open a disciplinary procedure”.
“You never know when you’re going to have an anxiety attack. I always wear my dress,” she told the radio station this week. El País reported before adding that she had “low blood pressure.”
