According to the Prosecutor’s Office, the former official approved the disbursement of more than one billion pesos to a Health Providing Institution (IPS) for the care of 14 patients, without having the documents or support that would support the provision of the service.
News Colombia.
He Superior Court of Montería partially revoked a first instance ruling and convicted the former Secretary of Health of Córdoba, José Jaime Pareja Germanto 15 years in prison for the crimes of embezzlement by appropriation in favor of third parties and conspiracy to commit a crime. The decision was made after evaluating the arguments presented by the Attorney General’s Office in an appeal.
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In addition to the prison sentence, the former public official must pay a fine of 1,525 million pesos and will face a inability to exercise public rights and functions for a period of 180 months. The ruling specified that the sentence must be served in a prison facility.
According to the judicial entity, the events that led to this conviction date back to January 2015when the former secretary signed and authorized the application of monthly doses of medications not included in the Mandatory Health Plan (POS) to 14 patients with diseases such as hemophilia and Von Willebrand.
In response to an appeal from the #Prosecution General of the Nation, the former Secretary of Health of the Nation was sentenced to 15 years in prison #CordovaJosé Jaime Pareja Alemán. The former official, abusing his duties, authorized and paid for the treatment of 14 patients who allegedly…
— Colombian Prosecutor’s Office (@FiscaliaCol) November 11, 2024
On the other hand, in May 2016the former secretary issued a favorable concept and approved an administrative act that authorized the disbursement of 1,525 million pesos to one Health Providing Institution (IPS)with the supposed purpose of covering the costs of treatments for the aforementioned patients.
Former Secretary of Health of Córdoba presented “false medical examinations and certifications”
According to the Prosecutor’s Officea prosecutor from the Specialized Directorate against Corruption demonstrated that 8 of the 14 patients never received attention, despite the fact that public resources were actually disbursed.
«To justify the flow of public resources, which corresponded to the General Participation System and the School Feeding Program (PAE), false medical examinations and certifications were presented in the name of bacteriologists, hematologists and other specialists who never participated in the care of the population to benefit,” said the Prosecutor’s Office.
