IG to charge Arias over agriculture subsidy scandal

[Judi Lynn]

IG to charge Arias over agriculture subsidy scandal
Monday, 11 October 2010 07:00 Adriaan Alsema

Colombia's Inspector General will charge former Minister Andres Felipe Arias for his role in the scandal involving the allegedly fraudulent granting of government agricultural subsidies, W Radio reported on Monday.

According to the radio station, Arias is among nine officials who will be investigated for the granting of the subsidies to beauty queens and wealthy and politically powerful families, while they were meant to stimulate poor farmers.

The former Minister is already being investigated by the Prosecutor General, who hasn't yet decided whether to officially pressed charges.

Arias is accused of having granted the subsidies to rally political support primarily in the northern region of the country. His successor admitted publicly that beneficiaries of the subsidies financially supported efforts to re-elect former President Alvaro Uribe, but the former Minister is also suspected of having rallied support for his own presidential ambitions previous to the 2010 elections.

http://colombiareports.com/colombia-news/news/12294-ig-to-charge-arias-over-agriculture-subsidy-scandal.html

[rabs]

1. Who? Uribe's ambassador to Rome?

You will recall that two days before uribe's presidential term expired (Aug. 7), he appointed arias (aka as 'little uribito') to be Colombia's ambassador in Italy.

But so far I have not seen that the Italian government has accepted arias. Suspect Rome is leery of have someone under criminal investigation representing Colombia.

:rofl:

[Judi Lynn]

2. Truly disrespectful to send Arias. May as well send Mario Uribe Escobar.

Costa Rica won't take him, maybe Italy would. Two birds with one stone.

~~~~~
Charges confirmed against ex-minister Arias
Tuesday, 12 October 2010 10:43 Christina Filipovic

The Inspector General's office confirmed charges against former Ministers of Agriculture Andres Felipe Arias and Andres Fernandez for their role in the agriculture subsidy scandal.

Other executive officers from the Uribe administration may be linked to the scandal as well, such as former manager of the Colombian Institute for Rural Development, Rodolfo Campo Soto.The Public Ministry, part of the Inspector General's Office, determined that the three officials and 11 others engaged in conduct which "violates the disciplinary code."

In mid-2009, Arias was implicated in a scandal over the misuse of funds from AIS subsidies, which were meant to help the rural poor but instead went to elite Colombian families.

The former minister recently turned down the offer to become Colombia's ambassador to Italy "for the unity of political projects" and to "show transparency of my public and private acts."

http://colombiareports.com/colombia-news/news/12327-charges-confirmed-against-ex-minister-arias.html

http://www.prensarural.org.nyud.net:8090/spip/IMG/jpg/610x.jpg

[rabs]

3. Well, Italian government probably happy

that uribito turned down the ambassadorship.

That saves Italy the task of saying NO to his appointment, if it had not already done so.

:rofl: