MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Chilean Ex-Minister Jailed in Scandal

A judge on Tuesday ordered the arrest of a former cabinet minister and two other former high-ranking officials in a growing corruption scandal affecting the center-left government of President Ricardo Lagos.

Judge Carlos Aranguiz ordered the detentions of former Public Works Minister Carlos Cruz and two former officials who worked in the Santiago regional office of the ministry. The judge has five days to bring charges against them.

The former officials are suspected of taking bribes in exchange for granting licenses for shops that issue the inspection certificates for motor vehicles.

Cruz has been a close associate of President Ricardo Lagos.

"The arrest of former minister Cruz affects me from a human point of view. I've known him for many years and I've seen his generous dedication to public service," Lagos said in a statement.

But, he added, "my government respects the decisions by the courts. Nobody is above the law."

In addition, Aranguiz is seeking to have immunity from prosecution removed from five pro-government congressmen for allegedly also taking bribes to use their political influence on behalf of businessmen seeking the licences.

If Aranguiz's immunity request is accepted, the government's majority in the lower house of congress would be cut to one vote. A final ruling is due on Friday.

Aranguiz has also looked into allegations that Cruz and some high-ranking government officials received salary supplements that were not included in their tax returns.