ELN declares unilateral ceasefire ahead of Colombia’s elections
Colombia’s opposition dismisses US claim of ‘Russian threat’
Colombia’s drug policy a ‘failure’ that obstructed peace:...
Medellin government rejects ‘illegitimate’ interim mayor
Electoral violence in Colombia doubled since 2018
Colombia legalizes assisted suicide in historic ruling
Why Colombia’s upcoming elections could trigger a crisis
Colombia’s inspector general suspends mayors on election meddling...
Daniel Quintero
Colombia made $1.2B available for possible slush funds
  • About
  • Support
  • Newsletter
  • Contact
Colombia News | Colombia Reports
  • News
    • General
    • Analysis
    • War and peace
    • Elections
    • Economy
    • Culture
    • Sports
    • Science and Tech
  • Travel
    • General
    • Bogota
    • Medellin
    • Cali
    • Cartagena
    • Antioquia
    • Caribbean
    • Pacific
    • Coffee region
    • Amazon
    • Southwest Colombia
    • Northeast Colombia
    • Central Colombia
  • Data
    • Economy
    • Crime and security
    • War and peace
    • Development
    • Cities
    • Regions
    • Provinces
  • Profiles
    • Organized crime
    • Politics
    • Armed conflict
    • Economy
    • Sports
  • Lite
  • Opinion
News

More than $2.5B stolen in health care scandal: Police

by Marguerite Cawley May 3, 2011

Colombia news - Health care

Police said that more than $2.5 billion (COP 4.5 trillion) has been stolen from Colombians over the course of a major health care scandal, newspaper El Tiempo reported Tuesday.

The newest figures back up President Juan Manuel Santos’ Monday statement, reported by newspaper El Espectador, that “This is not a fraud case of millions, but rather of billions.”

The president reported that in just the beginning stages of the ongoing case, it has been discovered that nearly $17 million (COP 33 billion) in state money was stolen.

Thus far, news of the health care scandal has revolved around a network of 25 staff from the Ministry of Social Protection and the government agency Fosyga accused of double billing, extreme budget overruns and providing benefits to dead people, among other things.

Santos announced in a Monday press conference, however, that the details discovered so far are only the tip of the iceberg, and that “A mafia is stealing the resources of our citizens.”

Early Tuesday morning, a judge upheld Monday’s decision to arrest six out of the 25 of those initially implicated in the scandal, who are being held on charges of conspiracy, official misconduct, embezzlement, bribery and illicit enrichment of individuals.

corruptionhealth careJuan Manuel SantosMinistry of Social Protectionpolice

Trending

  • Why Colombia’s upcoming elections could trigger a crisis

  • Colombia’s inspector general suspends mayors on election meddling charges

  • Medellin government rejects ‘illegitimate’ interim mayor

Related articles

  • Colombia investigates registrar over election chaos

  • Colombia’s prison chief sacked amid corruption scandal

  • Colombia’s election race rocked by corruption scandal

  • RSS

@2008-2019 - Colombia Reports. All Rights Reserved.
Powered by Digitale Zaken and Parrolabs


Back To Top