The Colombian Comptroller General’s (CG) office followed the Inspector General’s (IG) lead by also opening an investigation into former Agricultural Minister Felipe Arias’ alleged role in the AIS subsidies scandal Wednesday.
Earlier today the IG opened a disciplinary investigation against ex-Minister Andres Felipe Arias for his alleged involvement in the irregular distribution of agricultural subsidies in the Agro Ingreso Seguro (AIS) program.
Following the IG’s statement, the Comptroller Julio Cesar Turbay announced his department will also begin investigating Arias’ role in the scandal.
According to Turbay, the fiscal watchdog has sufficient grounds to open an investigation, El Espectador reported.
Turbay said that the CG will release a report on the matter next week.
The AIS scandal, which has been raging for several months, arose after it was revealed that both Arias and current Agricultural Minister Andres Fernandez, as well as various other government officials, had allegedly granted government funds to certain companies and affluent Colombian families, when the money was intended for poor farmers.