Former Cabinet members face charges in Colombia
Mar 6, 2012, 6:21 PM
BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) – Colombia’s chief prosecutor’s office says it will seek bribery charges against two people who served in the Cabinet of former President Alvaro Uribe for alleged machinations that ensured Uribe could run for re-election.
The prosecutor’s office said in a statement Tuesday that it would seek the charges against former Interior Minister Sabas Pretelt and Labor Minister Diego Palacio. If convicted, they face up to eight years in prison.
The statement says the two men likely bribed a congresswoman to switch her vote in favor of legislation in 2004 that permitted Uribe to run for a second consecutive term.
Both deny offering Congresswoman Yidis Medina political favors in exchange for her vote.
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