A former senator who invited dozens of friends over to Bogota‘s La Picota prison for a birthday dinner has been transferred to a prison in Barranquilla.
The move was announced on Wednesday by Gustavo Adolfo Ricaurte, the director of Colombia’s prison authority INPEC, who was authorized by the Supreme Court to remove the politician from the special politicians’ ward in the Bogota penitentiary.
Former Senator Juan Carlos Martinez recently celebrated his birthday with a luxurious dinner to which he invited dozens of guests. Among the guests were the former governor of the Valle del Cauca department and salsa artist Alexis Lozano. In 2010, the former senator caused controversy when he had his cell expanded.
Other politicians who took too many liberties while in jail will also be investigated, said the INPEC director.
According to Interior and Justice Minister German Vargas Lleras, Colombia’s prison system is “steeped in corruption” and must be reformed.
