Colombia: Disciplinary charges for 2 ex-ministers

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Colombia: Disciplinary charges for 2 ex-ministers
The Associated Press
Tuesday, October 12, 2010; 5:12 PM

BOGOTA, Colombia -- Colombia's inspector general announced disciplinary charges Tuesday against two former agriculture ministers in a case involving the alleged diversion of funds from a small-farmers subsidy program to wealthy hacienda owners.

Between 2007 and 2009, during President Alvaro Uribe's administration, about 500 billion Colombian pesos, or more than $277 million, were set aside for the subsidy program designed to help small agricultural producers. Local media reports have said $1 million ended up invested in the estates of wealthy Colombians.

Andres Felipe Arias, who was agriculture minister in 2006-09, and Andres Fernandez, who held the post in 2009-10, are named in the complaint issued by Inspector General Alejandro Ordonez.

Arias and Fernandez could not be immediately located for comment. They have six months to assemble their defense, and will face sanctions if they lose their case.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/12/AR2010101204529.html