Comptroller Challenges His Removal

EVEN though Alex Solís said lastweek he would respect the recent decisionof the Legislative Assembly to removehim from his post as Comptroller General,he filed a case before the ConstitutionalChamber of the Supreme Court (Sala IV)Dec. 17 contesting the decision.The assembly voted Dec. 13 to fireSolís based on an investigation of theJudicial Investigation Police (OIJ) thatconcluded he forged 27 signatures of familymembers while working as an attorney(TT, Oct. 29, Dec. 17).Solís, who as comptroller was responsiblefor reviewing government contractsand finances for irregularities, admitted tothe press he had made a mistake, but saidit is not one that merits his removal.According to the daily La Nación,Solís said the assembly did not prove his“incompetence or misconduct” as isrequired for his removal under Article 183of the Constitution.Discussion to remove Solís began justweeks after legislators named him to thepost in June (TT, July 2).