Pensioner Dies Trying to Prove He Is Alive
Updated 8:33 PM ET June 9, 2000

BOGOTA, Colombia (Reuters) - Colombian bureaucracy proved fatal for an 87-year-old man who died of a heart attack as he waited in line to collect a government certificate to prove he was still alive. Former public works employee Arturo Suspe died Thursday in a local government office in Bogota while navigating red tape to obtain an official "survival certificate" that would allow him to continue drawing his $133 monthly pension.

Local authorities in central Cundinamarca province, which includes Bogota, introduced the certificate in a move to crack down on cheats who were receiving pensions issued in the name of dead people.

"This was a pure accident and a very lamentable incident," Cundinamarca governor Andres Gonzalez said of Suspe's death.

Since the "survival certificate" was introduced in late November, more than 7,000 elderly people have joined long lines to obtain them.

Gonzalez said he did not plan to change the rules in light of Suspe's death.