The mayor of the Colombian capital Samuel Moreno Rojas Bogota, has been sent to prison pending his trial on corruption charges. He denies an accusation that he took bribes to award public works contracts along with other senior officials and businessmen. Mr Moreno had already been suspended as mayor and expelled from his political party, the opposition Democratic Pole. The mayor of Bogota is considered Colombia's second most powerful political position after the presidency. It is alleged that huge bribes were paid to secure contracts to build roads and other major infrastructure projects in Bogota, some of which were not completed.