Pensions scandal of jailed politicians
Over thirty of Colombia´s former congressman convicted of serious criminal wrong doing continue to receive monthly pensions of over 10,000 US dollars it was revealed today.
An investigation carried out by El Tiempo newspaper lists Colombia´s top earning convict politicians some of whom are still in jail. Perhaps the most infamous case is that of Alberto Santofimio, the intellectual co-author of the (allegedly Pablo Escobar financed) murder of presidential candidate Luis Carlos Galán, who, despite being sentenced to 24 years in prison, enjoys a whopping 20 million pesos a month from the state.
And Mario Uribe, cousin of ex-president Alvaro Uribe who was last year imprisoned for seven years for his links with the country´s right-wing paramilitaries seems unlikely to grow old poor with his bumper 19 million pesos pay out.
Outspoken Senator Amando Benedetti has said that “anyone sentenced for parapolitics, guerrilla activities or narcotraficking should no longer receive a peso from the state”.
While most will agree with Benedetti, there is no law in place to prevent moneys going to these convicts. So while almost the majority of Colombia´s workforce lives on the minimum wage of 300 dollars a month, some of the country´s most outrageous and criminal politicians enjoy riches beyond the wildest dreams of most.
Are there calls on a minister to resign? Are there calls on the state to recoup this money? Is the media running a campaign to overhaul the salary and benefits of the nation´s elected officials?