Former agriculture minister charged with embezzling $25M through subsidy scheme (Colombia)

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Colombia Reports

Former agriculture minister charged with embezzling $25M through subsidy scheme
Thursday, 21 July 2011
Matt Snyder, Adriaan Alsema

Former Agricultural Minister Andres Felipe Arias was charged with abuse of power and embezzlement of millions in state subsidies, but was not sent to jail because the Prosecutor General's Office had failed to provide copies of its evidence to the defense.

The judge suspended the hearing until 11AM Friday morning to allow the Prosecutor General's Office to make photocopies of the evidence and the defense to respond to the accusations and protest Prosecutor General Viviane Morales' claims that Arias is "a danger to society" and must be in jail while his trial is pending.

~snip~
Morales said the former minister masterminded the creation of a network of close relations at the agricultural ministry and Colombia's agricultural development bureau which allowed Arias almost total control over agricultural subsidy program Agro Ingresso Seguro (AIS) and embezzle almost $25 million through informal channels.

While being intended for poor families, the government subsidies ended up in the pockets of economically and politically powerful families.

Read more: http://colombiareports.com/colombia-news/news/17801-former-agriculture-minister-charged-with-embezzling-25m-through-subsidy-scheme.html

[rabs]

1. Arias was hand-picked by Uribe to take his place in the presidential palace

last year until Arias ran afoul of the AIS scandal and he was forced to drop out as a potential presidential candidate.

Alvaro Uribe said at the time of Arias (aka "Little Uribe"), "He is an improved version of myself."

edit -- typo in name