After two weeks in hiding, the administrative director of Colombia’s House of Representatives has officially been dismissed following a contracting scandal, Colombian media reported Friday.
Ex-Administrative Director Jairo Jaramillo Matiz was officially dismissed from his post a formal meeting with President of the House Simon Gaviria Muñoz Thursday evening.
House representatives reported that they will appoint a new administrative director right away.
According to W Radio, the former director reportedly went into hiding for two weeks in order to avoid his official dismissal and questioning over 475 seemingly irregular contracts and the whereabouts of 16 cars.
“To have this guy playing cat and mouse, not notifying the Inspector General’s Office, is a shame and a very unfortunate thing,” said the chamber’s president.
Jaramillo and head of the legal division Carlos Florez Rojas were found to have been involved in “serious” irregularities in the selection of a contracting firm to renovate government administrative buildings, including the Salon Eliptico.
The two representatives skipped the public bidding process legally required for choosing a contractor, and instead hired contractor Infactic for the $6 million project.
The former congressional director has been banned from holding public office for 14 years.