( CNN ) -- A hacker scandal involving a video is sending shockwaves through Colombia 's presidential campaign just days before Sunday 's election , making the already volatile electoral process even more contentious as parties accuse each other of dirty tricks and schemes . The video published by the weekly news magazine `` Semana '' in Bogotá allegedly shows Óscar Iván Zuluaga , the leading presidential candidate , getting secret military information from a man who was arrested earlier this month and accused of illegal hacking activities . Andrés Sepúlveda , 29 , was arrested on May 5 and accused of `` managing an illegal office dedicated to intercepting emails from between those close to the peace dialogues in Havana ( Cuba ) , '' according to a news release published by the Colombian attorney general 's office . The government of President Juan Manuel Santos , who is running for re-election , has held peace talks with the Marxist FARC guerrillas since late 2012 . Authorities confiscated 69 pieces of evidence , including computers and USB drives belonging to the suspect , according to the attorney general 's office . Zuluaga told reporters the five-minute video is `` a vulgar montage '' put together to smear his campaign . `` This video montage is a trap . It 's no coincidence that it 's been published when I 'm on top in the polls and the president is going down , '' Zuluaga said . Santos has not commented directly on the video . A poll published by Ipsos Napoleon Franco on Friday , before the scandal broke , said Zuluaga would receive 29.5 % of the vote versus 28.5 % for Santos . Colombian law forbids the publication of polls seven days before a presidential election , so there 's no way of knowing whether the scandal has changed last week 's percentages . Former President Alvaro Uribe , a Zuluaga supporter , called the video `` a montage '' and suggested the scandal is the creation of the Santos campaign . `` ( Andrés Sepúlveda ) is an alleged 'hacker ' who has worked with ( Venezuelan political strategist ) J.J. Rendón , who 's close to President Santos . In the video , they show Óscar Iván Zuluaga getting information that has already been in the rumor mill and has no relevance , '' Uribe said . Rendón had been working for the Santos campaign but resigned earlier this month after accusations surfaced that he had received $ 12 million from drug traffickers in exchange for political favors in the Santos government . In the past , Rendón worked for Uribe . Enrique Peñalosa , the Alianza Verde ( Green Alliance ) presidential candidate , told CNN affiliate Caracol TV he believes Zuluaga has committed a serious crime . `` We 're talking about the crime of illegal wiretapping , conspiracy to commit a crime , and the crime of using military information and intelligence . We Colombians can not resign ourselves to this . These are not the leaders we want , '' Peñalosa said . Javier Restrepo , a pollster with Ipsos Napoleon Franco , says Colombian voters essentially face one choice : Do they vote for the candidate who wants peace talks with the FARC or the one who wants the guerrillas to surrender ? `` The difference regarding the candidates ' position in the economy and other issues is minimal , but when it comes to how to handle the guerrilla , it 's abysmal , '' Restrepo said . `` Santos is advocating for a continuation of the peace talks he started in 2012 , while Zuluaga 's position is that there should not be a dialogue with an illegal guerrilla until its fighters surrender to government forces and lay down their weapons , '' Restrepo said . There are five presidential candidates , but the only two with a real possibility of winning are Zuluaga and Santos , according to Restrepo . Colombian electoral law says to win a presidential election , a candidate must obtain 50 % of the vote plus one vote , which means a second round on June 15 is very likely .
A video purports to show Marxist presidential challenger with accused hacker . Juan Manuel Santos denies charge , says incumbent Óscar Iván Zuluaga created `` a vulgar montage '' The hacking suspect is accused of running office that intercepted e-mails from FARC talks . The top two contenders disagree about negotiating with the Colombian FARC guerrillas .