No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeBig Brother's watchingCourt to hear newspaper spying case, orders OIJ to not interfere with...

Court to hear newspaper spying case, orders OIJ to not interfere with complainants

Costa Rica’s Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court, or Sala IV, on Friday agreed to hear a case on alleged police spying on Diario Extra reporters.

The Sala IV also ordered the Judicial Investigation Police (OIJ) – accused of spying in the case – to allow the daily Diario Extra access to public information relevant to the case and not to take any action against the newspaper. A court spokeswoman, Vanilly Cantillo, communicated the information in a Friday statement.

Diario Extra first made the accusation on Monday, saying that the OIJ had intercepted the phone records of its journalists and the owner of the media company, Grupo Extra, over a 10-month period as part of an investigation to identify a leak inside the judicial branch. Chief Public Prosecutor Jorge Chavarría admitted that the OIJ had monitored phone records, but that the target of the investigation was a judicial branch employee and not Diario Extra.

On Thursday, Diario Extra filed a constitutional complaint at the court in downtown San José. Protesters and Diario Extra members gathered outside their San José office while awaiting court action. They celebrated the news when it was announced late Friday afternoon.

The court, however, ruled against two of Diario Extra’s requests. The newspaper had asked that all surveillance by the OIJ and the Prosecutor’s Office cease, but the court ruled that the constitutionality of surveillance would be examined during court proceedings. Diario Extra also asked that the OIJ cease any threats against the newspaper or its staff. But the court said there was not yet evidence of threats being made.

Trending Now

Marriott Expands in Costa Rica with Adventure-Focused Hotel

Marriott is set to grow its footprint in Costa Rica by opening a new hotel in the Central Pacific area next year. The Santa...

Costa Rican President Brushes Off Surge in Homicides

President Rodrigo Chaves has again brushed off Costa Rica's mounting security problems, labeling them as misunderstandings in a recent interview. Speaking on FOX Noticias,...

Costa Rica Monitors Caribbean Tropical Wave with 70% Storm Chance

Those who live along the Caribbean coast know all too well how quickly weather can turn in October. Right now, the Instituto Meteorológico Nacional...

Tourist Numbers Dropped in Costa Rica During 2025’s First Seven Months

Costa Rica's tourism took a hit in the first seven months of 2025, with visitor numbers dropping compared to the previous year. By the...

Costa Rica Joins US-Led Bid for 2031 Women’s Soccer World Cup

The United States, Mexico, Costa Rica, and Jamaica have teamed up to bid for hosting the 2031 FIFA Women's World Cup. This marks the...

From Costa Rica to the US an Expat Longing For Home

There are close to 200,000 people of Tico origin presently living in the US. I have spent the past month in an area where...
spot_img
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