Former Colombian congressman Ivan Diaz Mateus, imprisoned for accepting bribes in the “Yidispolitica” scandal, will be released from prison this week, Caracol Radio reported Monday.
Diaz Mateus has been granted probation for good behavior, accumulated community service hours and having served three-fifths of his 6-year sentence.
The Colombian Supreme Court sentenced the ex-legislator to 72 months in prison in 2009 after he was found guilty of accepting bribes in exchange for votes needed to approve a consitutional change. The change would have allowed ex-President Uribe to run for a third term in the 2006 presidential race.
The bribery scandal, widely known as “Yidispolitica,” also landed former lawmakers Yidis Medina and Teodolindo Avendaño in jail.
On Friday, Diaz Mateus was awarded conditional liberty with a fixed probation period of 28 months. Under the terms of the ex-lawmaker’s release, he will be sent back to jail immediately if he commits any crime.
