Controversy over new armored cars for Congress

A move to spend $37.7 million (COP70 billion) on new armored cars for members of Colombia’s Congress is causing controversy.

Congress President Carlos Alberto Zuluaga asked the body’s managing director, Jairo Jaramillo, a promoter of the bid, to suspend the request, La Semana reported Thursday.

This action came after the inspector general asked Congress to revoke the proposed contract for 215 armored vehicles.

According to a report from W Radio, the ssuperintendent of surveillance and private security warned that if Congress awarded themselves this bid, they could see a fine of up to 40 times the minimum monthly salary.