No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeArchiveNurse Accused of Arson In San José Hospital Fire

Nurse Accused of Arson In San José Hospital Fire

On the one-year anniversary of the fire that devastated San José’s Calderón Guardia Hospital and took 19 lives, the Chief Prosecutor’s Office announced Wednesday that a former nurse was formally accused of setting the hospital on fire, according to Judicial Branch spokeswoman Sandra Castro.

After a yearlong investigation, the Prosecutor’s Office is charging Juan Carlos Ledezma with arson and 19 counts of murder, Castro said.

He will now stand before a public audience of those affected by the fire so they can decide whether they wish to be plaintiffs in the case against him, according to a statement from the Judicial Branch.

The pre-dawn fire destroyed the hospital’s surgery, birthing, neonatal and gynecology units, among others (TT, July 15, 2005).

Also Wednesday, the Taiwanese government donated $15 million to the Social Security System (Caja) to rebuild the hospital.

At a ceremony attended by Caja director Eduardo Doryan and Foreign Minister Bruno Stagno, Taiwanese Ambassador Tzu-Dan Wu donated the funds, which will be used to build a seven-floor building to house obstetric, neonatal, gynecology, surgery and nutrition units as well as a blood lab and cafeteria, according to a statement from the Foreign Ministry.

 

Popular Articles

Nicaragua Condemns U.S. Migrant Policy Under Trump as Crimes Against Humanity

Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega on Wednesday accused U.S. President Donald Trump of committing "horrendous crimes" against migrants by deporting them, separating families, and having...

Nicaragua to Leave UNESCO After Press Freedom Prize Awarded to La Prensa

Nicaragua announced Sunday its withdrawal from UNESCO, calling it "unacceptable" that the organization awarded the Press Freedom Prize to La Prensa, a staunch critic...

MegaCon 2025 Brings Global Pop Culture to Costa Rica

MegaCon 2025, Costa Rica’s largest pop culture convention, kicked off yesterday, at the Costa Rica Convention Center. Running through Sunday the event is expected...
Avatar
spot_img
Costa Rica Tours
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait

Latest Articles