Most prominent of the accused are current Minister of Social Protection, Diego Palacio Betancourt, former Interior Minister, Sabas Pretelt De La Vega and former director of Colombia’s intelligence agency DAS, Jorge Noguera.The suspects are suspected of having offered bribes to Medina to persuade her to vote positively about a constitutional change needed in 2004 to allow Uribe to run for the Presidency again in 2006. Uribe won the election convincingly.The Supreme Court had earlier obliged the Constitutional Court to investigate the legality of the 2006 elections, because without the former congresswoman’s bribed vote, Uribe never could have taken part in the elections.The popular president reacted furiously and asked congress to call for a referendum to repeat the elections, causing the opposition of accusing him of being a ‘populist dictator’. Uribe also asked Congress’ accusations commission to start investigating members of the Supreme Court for slander.Medina is currently serving 3,5 years house arrest, after she was condemned for changing her vote for personal gain. She claims the members of the administration had offered her political favors.
Colombian minister and ex-minister charged with bribery
