No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeArchiveTalamanca mayor, three others arrested on corruption charges

Talamanca mayor, three others arrested on corruption charges

Costa Rican Judicial Investigation Police officers (OIJ) arrested the mayor of Talamanca, Rugeli Morales, last Thursday morning on corruption charges, security ministry officials confirmed last week.

Talamanca is a municipality in the southern Caribbean region.

Morales, 45, was charged with directing ¢ 350 million ($641,000) in municipal funds to his personal bank accounts.

Authorities also arrested a city inspector, a municipal accountant and a mayoral advisor whose last names are Bastos, Cortés and Barrantes, respectively. The three have been charged with embezzlement of public funds, aggravated corruption of public officials, and activities incompatible with their public service. Prosecutors suspect that these three officials aided Morales.

OIJ officers and officials from the Adjunct Prosecutor´s office of Limón raided the Talamanca municipality building and Morales´ house on Thursday afternoon. Authorities removed bank documents that will be used as evidence against Morales and the three municipal employees.

The four city officials have been detained at the Bribri prosecutor´s office. On Friday they were interrogated for the alleged crimes.

Trending Now

U.S. – Guatemala Security Pact Targets Crime and Helps Returning Migrants

U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem signed a border security cooperation agreement with Guatemala on Thursday, which includes the use of drones and...

Costa Rica Joins U.S. Global Entry, Easing Travel for Tourists

Costa Rica took a big step forward, by officially joining the U.S. Global Entry program, a move set to make travel smoother for Costa...

Costa Rica’s Pride March 2025 Defies Restrictions and Celebrates Diversity

A large crowd gathered in Paseo Colón, San José, to participate in the LGBTIQ+ Pride March 2025. It began at noon, as people marched...

Costa Rica Maintains Economic Stability Amid Global Tensions

Costa Rica is holding steady economically despite global tensions sparked by conflicts involving Israel, the United States, and Iran, according to Federico Quesada Chaves,...

El Salvador Slams Paris Fashion Show Inspired by Cecot Mega-Prison Inmates

The president of El Salvador, Nayib Bukele, joked on Saturday that he could send inmates from his mega-prison to France, after they were represented...

Costa Rica’s Rare Birds at Risk as Human Activity Threatens Extinction

Costa Rica’s bare-necked umbrellabird, a striking black bird with a red throat pouch and crest, is in trouble. A new study in Nature Ecology...
Avatar
spot_img
Costa Rica Tours
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica