Bribery investigation against Uribe reopened

Colombia’s Congress reopened an investigation into alleged bribery by President Alvaro Uribe to win support for his first re-election bid.

A commission, led by three investigators, has called various witnesses to testify in the case, including ex-congressmen Teodolindo Avendano and Ivan Diaz Mateus, who are alleged to have sold their votes in favor of allowing the 2006 re-election to proceed.

Following the two ex-congressmen on the stand will be ex-Prosecutor General Mario Iguaran and ex-presidential secretary Bernardo Moreno.

The bribery allegations are widely known as “Yidis politics,” after ex-congresswoman Yidis Medina, who was convicted by the Supreme Court for accepting favors in exchange for a vote in support of the re-election.

Medina is currently serving a house arrest sentence.

Uribe and several (former) members of his administration are also being investigated by the Prosecutor General’s Office for bribery.

Related posts

Colombia expels Argentina’s ambassador and embassy staff

Colombia to break off ties with Israel if UN ceasefire demand is not met

Petro proposes constituent assembly to push through reforms