Colombia’s comptroller has called for an investigation of the Ministry of Agriculture for allegedly submitting false figures, reported local media Monday.
The comptroller entity transferred evidence to the Prosecutor General’s office after finding false information in a follow-up study of the launch of the Victims and Land Restitution Law. They are asking for prosecution to investigate whether or not the information is false.
President Juan Manuel Santos has been basing land reform on figures which led him to an error of presenting victims with land, an action which prevented a timely implementation and execution of state policy towards victims.
“The Ministry of Agriculture provided inaccurate information that has misled Colombia’s president to present land as compensation, within the framework of this law,” said the comptroller entity.
The Victims and Land Restitution Law, which went into effect January 2012, seeks to compensate victims of the country’s 48-year armed conflict. The bill is meant to help victims affected by the violence of guerrilla and paramilitary groups rebuild their lives with the help of payments of up to $11,000, as well as provide land restitutions to people displaced by violence.
The comptroller is asking the prosecution to initiate any actions that may be required against officials of the ministry.
