Politicians enjoy cushy prison stay

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Colombia Reports

Politicians enjoy cushy prison stay
Friday, 29 October 2010 14:00 Cameron Sumpter

Politicians convicted for links to paramilitaries and jailed in Bogota's infamous La Picota prison are getting special privileges, such as vallenato parties and regular trips outside of the jail, reports Caracol Radio.

In what has come to be known as the "parapolitics yard," barbecues and parties are regular events, while alcohol, Blackberry cell phones and cash are all freely available to inmates of the "Ere Sur" wing of La Picota, according to a Caracol source.

The source said that in May a parapolitics inmate called the then-Interior and Justice Minister Fabio Valencia Cossio while drunk and complained that someone was trying to kill the prisoner. An officer from INPEC, the national prison authority, allegedly then came to the rescue of the inmate, which the source said demonstrates the power parapolitics prisoners wield in La Picota.

Prisoners are also reportedly using the excuse of medical appointments to attend political meetings at bars and restaurants outside the prison.

Read more: http://colombiareports.com/colombia-news/news/12660-parapoliticians-enjoy-cushy-prison-time.html

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