No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeArchiveProsecutors raid Costa Rica lawmaker Justo Orozco’s office in ongoing probe

Prosecutors raid Costa Rica lawmaker Justo Orozco’s office in ongoing probe

Costa Rica’s Prosecutor’s Office and agents from the Judicial Investigation Police at 1:30 p.m. on Monday raided lawmaker Justo Orozco’s office at the Legislative Assembly in San José.

Agents were looking for evidence in an ongoing investigation of Orozco, who is accused of misusing public funds and resources to conduct private business. The raid was ordered by the Penal Branch of the Supreme Court, or Sala III, according to Legislative Assembly Executive Director Antonio Ayales.

An investigation in August by Telenoticias Channel 7 found that the Costa Rican Renovation Party lawmaker was using his public office to provide private legal and notary services when he was supposed to be in legislative sessions. He allegedly used government resources to conduct that private business, Channel 7 reported.

Costa Rica’s Constitution does not forbid current lawmakers from working in a private practice, as long as business is conducted off government property and outside of official work hours.

Channel 7 reported that in the last three years Orozco performed 44 private notary tasks at his Legislative Assembly office, including 31 marriages, six business contracts and two divorces, among others. During Monday’s raid, investigators confiscated the lawmaker’s private practice logbook from the National Registry.

Following the Channel 7 report, Orozco acknowledged conducting private business while serving as a lawmaker, but he said the work was “pro-bono,” and “part of social aid I offered to poor people and as favors to friends.”

But not charging for his services would have violated the country’s Notary Code, which states that notaries are obliged to use the Costa Rica’s Lawyers Association fee table for all services provided.

In August, officials from the National Notary Administration raided Orozco’s private office, located in Hatillo, a suburb south of the capital.

Follow updates of this story at wordpress-257819-2837440.cloudwaysapps.com

Trending Now

Costa Rica Hunts for Nicaraguan Hit Squad After Exile’s Assassination

Costa Rica’s Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ) is investigating whether a hit squad tied to Nicaragua’s Ortega-Murillo regime is targeting exiled critics on its soil....

Costa Rican Health Officials Sound Alarm Over Teen Vaping Epidemic

Vaping has become increasingly popular, especially among teenagers and young adults. However, the health consequences associated with its use are raising alarm among Costa...

Nicaraguan Critic Roberto Samcam Assassinated in Costa Rica

A retired Nicaraguan army officer and outspoken critic of the Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo government was shot dead Thursday in Costa Rica, where...

Costa Rica’s $35M Mega-Prison Bid Targets Overcrowding Crisis

Costa Rica is taking a bold step to fix its overcrowded prisons with a new high-security facility. The Ministry of Justice and Peace has...

Costa Rica and U.S. Strengthen Border Scans and Biometric Cooperation

U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem met Wednesday with Honduran President Xiomara Castro to discuss security and migration, following her offer in Costa...

Mexican Influencer “El Arturito” Falls for Costa Rican Cuisine at Silvestre

Arturo Lemmen, a Mexican food critic known as “El Arturito” to his social media fans, used to think Costa Rican cuisine was nothing to...
L. Arias
L. Arias
Reporter | The Tico Times |
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