Authorities reported the transfer of 109 jailed former state employees to a new ward of Bogota‘s La Picota prison Wednesday, Colombian media reported.
In light of the numerous public officials implicated in public sector corruption scandals that have emerged in previous months, Colombia’s prison authority INPEC was forced to create an entirely separate ward at the infamous prison, designated specifically for public officials, as the 45 spaces formerly designated for these prisoners had been filled.
Wednesday’s transfer, performed by INPEC officials, included 87 prisoners who have been sentenced and 22 currently being processed.
The new ward will have several adjustments made to it in the following days, so that it can become a fully functional special holding establishment.
Officials at the Bogota prison, responsible for holding a great number of political prisoners and public officials, have been accused of allowing high profile prisoners to hold parties on the facilities at various times in the past.