Trouble Strikes Escazú Municipality

THE Escazú City Council has asked the Supreme Elections Tribunal (TSE) to suspend the mayor of this suburb southwest of San José while a questionable property purchase is investigated, the daily La Nación reported.

Council president Isabel Agüero told the daily they made the decision last month to ask for the suspension of Mayor Marco Segura while they conduct an investigation into the purchase of property in 2003 to build a kindergarten for the school Juan XXIII in San Antonio de Escazú. Segura has tried to prohibit the investigation, she alleged.

The purchase was made without getting the necessary approval from the Comptroller General.

Mayor Segura told the daily it is not his responsibility to ask for the comptroller’s approval, because this is the duty of the municipal supply department. He added that he hasn’t found any irregularities or corruption among the personnel who participated in the land purchase.

The TSE has not yet decided on the matter, the daily reported.