2023-11-18 21:29:08
Until he was captured—when he was just re-elected as senator—Mario Alberto Castaño Pérez was one of the most powerful politicians in Caldas. This public accountant, originally from the small municipality of Pácora, in the north of this coffee-growing department, was one of the most visible faces of the Liberal party. Sentenced to 15 years in prison for corruption, Castaño died this Saturday, November 18, when he was regarding to turn 52 years old.
(Also read: First hypothesis regarding the cause of death of former senator Mario Castaño)
Castaño received his degree in public accounting from the University of Manizales, had a postgraduate degree in financial management from the Autonomous University of Manizales and had a master’s degree in administration from UNAB of the Technological Institute of Monterrey (Mexico).
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(Read: Former senator Mario Castaño, convicted of corruption, died)
Before entering politics, Castaño was dedicated to teaching and also worked for private companies.
Of the 23 years that, according to Congreso Visible, he was in the public sector, for five he worked in the Government of Caldas as an assistant payer and accounting assistant, and deputy head of accounting and budget of Empocaldas.
(You may be interested: In which senator’s office did she work who was accused of a millionaire corruption case?)
However, Castaño acquired more relevance during his time in the ‘crown jewel’ of the department of Caldas: The Liquor Industry of Caldas. At the emblematic ILC, Castaño was cost coordinator, head of the financial office and financial and commercial manager.
Ten years ago, Castaño decided to put his name forward in the legislative elections and was elected representative to the Chamber for the period 2014 – 2018. He then presented his candidacy to the Senate and won a seat in the so-called upper house for the period 2018-2022.
The politician was captured on June 7, 2022 and was later convicted of the crimes of conspiracy to commit a crime, embezzlement by appropriation, attempted embezzlement by appropriation, aggravated fraud and concussion.
The Supreme Court of Justice sentenced Castaño to 15 years and 11 months in prison following accepting that he led a criminal structure that, in complicity with a group of mayors, officials and individuals, appropriated multimillion-dollar State resources.
According to an Inpec report, the former Liberal leader in Caldas died due to a heart attack. On December 8th he would have turned 52 years old.
Mario Castaño would have died from a heart attack
Former senator Mario Alberto Castaño Pérez, who was serving a sentence for corruption, was imprisoned in La Picota prison in Bogotá.
According to reports from Inpec, the former official had died, apparently due to a heart attack.
Members of the judicial police arrived at the scene waiting for the procedure to determine the causes of his death.
The Supreme Court ruling states that due to his position as a congressman, Castaño might have had contact with various public sector officials and interfered in administrative and contracting procedures.
(We invite you to read: What the ruling of the historic conviction for corruption of former senator Mario Castaño says).
The criminal network headed by Castaño became known as ‘the Puppets’ and just this week the Prosecutor’s Office had announced a new blow with the prosecution of two people who would have irregularly benefited from contracts amounting to 25,436 million pesos.
FERNANDO UMAÑA MEJÍA
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