Colombian governors, mayors face 1,845 criminal investigations

Colombia’s Prosecutor General’s Office is processing 1,845 criminal cases against the country’s governors and mayors.

According to radio station Caracol, more than 90% of the country’s local and departmental leaders have one or more criminal investigation pending against them.

Twenty of Colombia’s 32 governors are being investigated for criminal activities, mainly regarding corruption or ties to illegal armed groups.

Cesar governor Cristian Hernando Moreno Panezzo beats his colleagues’ criminal investigation record with eight investigations against him. The governors of Guainia, San Andres and Vaupes face six criminal investigations. Other governors under investigation are those of Antioquia, Atlantico, Tolima, Caldas, La Guajira, Norte de Santander, Vichada, Quindío, Meta, Amazonas, Arauca, Cundinamarca, Boyacá, Huila, Valle del Cauca and Sucre.

Of Colombia’s major cities, the popular mayor of the northern city of Baranquilla, Alejandro Char, leads the list of infamy with 16 criminal investigations against him. He is followed by Villavicencio Mayor Hector Raul Franco with 14 criminal investigations, Cartagena Mayor Judith Pinedo Vidal and Cucuta Mayor Maria Eugenia Riascos who both are being investigated in 11 criminal cases.

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos in August last year announced measures to counter the widespread corruption among Colombian government officials, but has so far not been able to have the proposed measures put on the Congress’ agenda.

According to the 2010 corruption perception index of Transparency International, Colombia ranks 72 of 178 of most corrupt countries in the world.