The Prosecutor General’s Office announced plans Thursday to investigate Colombia’s Finance Minister for allegedly misappropriating public funds to a private company for the construction and operation of a famous music park in the northeastern department of Cesar.
Finance Minister Juan Carlos Echeverry is accused of allocating public space and funds to a private organisation in Valledupar when he was the director of the National Planning Department between 1998 and 2002.
The public funds were used to build and operate the Leyenda Vallenata Park, where the famous annual Legend of Vallenato Festival takes place. The private company profitted from operating what should have been a publicly-run park.
Ex-mayor of Valledupar, Jhonny Perez Oñate, was arrested on Sunday in connection with the scandal.
The management of the park is expected to be handed over to the local municipality, reported Radio Caracol.