Jailed former minister resgins from Conservative Party .
Jailed former minister resgins from Conservative Party .
Wednesday, 22 February 2012 10:24
administrator
Colombia's former agriculture minister Andres Felipe Arias, jailed while awaiting trial over an embezzlement scandal, resigned from his Conservative Party Wednesday.
Arias announced his decision in a letter that arrived on the day that media reported his party has begun proceedings to have him expelled from the party.
The former agriculture minister has already been barred from holding public office for 18 years over the AIS subsidy scandal in which allegedly $25 million in state grants meant for poor farmers ended up with wealthy families and political allies of Arias and his superior, former President Alvaro Uribe.
According to reports, the Conservative Party asked the Supreme Court to submit evidence regarding Arias' alleged role in the embezzlement scandal.
More:
http://colombiareports.com/colombia-news/news/22352-failed-former-minister-resgins-from-conservative-party.html
