Over 400 political candidates have criminal records: DAS (Colombia)

[Judi Lynn]

Over 400 political candidates have criminal records: DAS
Friday, 08 July 2011 14:32
Alexander Stone

The director of Colombia's intelligence agency (DAS), Felipe Muñoz, revealed that more than 400 hopeful candidates in the upcoming October elections have criminal records.

After consulatation with the Liberal, Conservative, the U and the MIRA Movement parties, including checks on 24,000 candidates, 414 were found to have criminal records for "every type of crime," including drug trafficking, according to Caracol.

The Green, Democrat, and Radical Change parties had not been involved in the checks because they require background screening of all their applicants.

He added that while this is a service being provided by DAS for the political parties, it is the responsibility of their directors whether or not to endorse the applicants.

http://colombiareports.com/colombia-news/news/17507-over-400-political-candidates-have-criminal-records-das.html