National Water and Sewer Institute fires manager over fraud case

At a special session Monday morning the board members of Costa Rica’s Water and Sewer Institute (AyA) voted to fire Javier Vargas Tencio from his post as general manager after an investigation revealed he allegedly falsified a document to annul  wage garnishments stemming from a debt to a public bank.

Vargas owes the Bank of Costa Rica ₡17 million ($34,000) in credit card debt, according to an investigation by Telenoticias Channel 7, aired in a series of stories last week.

“This board considers it appropriate and convenient to the institutional interests to terminate the services of Mr. Javier Vargas Tencio,” AyA stated in a press release. The decision was made by a majority of board members.

Judicial Investigation Police agents last Friday raided AyA facilities in Pavas, west of San José, to search for evidence related to the alleged forged document.

Later that day, AyA’s Executive President Yesenia Calderón convened a board meeting to discuss the manager’s dismissal.

The press release was sent shortly after President Laura Chinchilla sent a memo asking board members to expedite a resolution to Vargas’ case.