Colombia investigates Cali cartel cheques

Colombian authorities are investigating around ten-thousand cheques said to have been paid by the Cali drugs cartel leaders -- now in jail -- to prominent Colombians.

The Deputy Chief Prosecutor, Jaime Cordoba, said the majority of cheques were paid out, via third parties, to politicians, government officials, financiers and journalists.

The investigation is part of a wider enquiry into drug-related corruption in public life.

President Ernesto Samper, several of his ministers and other important politicians have been investigated on suspicion of receiving funds from the Cali cartel to finance their political campaigns.

In 1996, the Colombian Congress cleared President Samper of any wrongdoing.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service