US starts extradition process for Colombia ex-Minister of Agriculture
Source: Colombia Reports
US starts extradition process for Colombia ex-Minister of Agriculture
Aug 28, 2014 posted by Victoria McKenzie
The US has begun the process of extraditing Andres Felipe Arias, the former Colombian minister sentenced to 17 years in prison for embezzling $25 million in government funds.
The US Supreme Court unanimously decided to transfer of Arias case to the Ministery of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Justice on Wednesday, although his asylum request is still pending investigation.
Arias fled Colombia after he was found guilty of embezzling over $25 million through an agricultural subsidy program called Agro Ingreso Seguro (AIS) under the Uribe administration.. Arias filed a request for asylum in Florida on July 7, arguing that he was being politically persecuted.
Arias was nowhere to be found at the time of his June sentencing, leading to suspicions that he escaped the country to avoid imprisonment, as had former intelligence director Maria del Pilar Hurtado, who also served under ex-President Alvaro Uribe.
Read more: http://colombiareports.co/us-starts-extradition-process-for-colombia-ex-minister-of-agriculture/
Earlier:
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Arias was found guilty of embezzling over $25 million through an agricultural subsidy program called Agro Ingreso Seguro (AIS).
Prosecutors successfully demonstrated that the former minister under ex-President Alvaro Uribe had funneled state subsidies from the Agro Ingreso Seguro (AIS) program that were intended for poor farmers, but instead were given to wealthy and politically powerful families, a beauty queen, and even former paramilitaries.
Colombias Inspector General Alejandro Ordoñez banned Arias from office for 16 years after the scandal broke. If Arias returns to Colombia, he will be facing 17 years, 5 months and 8 days in prison for his role in the AIS scandal.
http://colombiareports.co/colombias-ex-minister-arias-convicted-corruption-sought-asylum-united-states-prosecutor-general-confirms/