The inspector general suspended all 17 council members in Tunja, a city in the central Colombian department of Boyaca for irregularities in a 2008 election, RCN Radio reported.
In the election for the city ombudsman, the councilors of Tunja awarded the position to Jose Prisciliano Arias after he received eight of the 17 votes. The law states that a candidate must receive votes from a majority of the council members, requiring nine votes.
Inspector General Alejandro Ordoñez charged the entire city council for severe negligence and suspended them for three months.
The president of the council believed the councilors acted properly because of a law that says they must elect the candidate with the most votes. The members have three days to appeal the suspension.