No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeTopicsCrimeCosta Rica and Bahamas send El Salvador financial reports on fugitive ex-President...

Costa Rica and Bahamas send El Salvador financial reports on fugitive ex-President Flores

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador – Officials in El Salvador reported Tuesday that Costa Rica and the Bahamas have collaborated with an investigation of ex-President Francisco Flores by sending financial statements and other banking information to prosecutors, who accuse Flores of misappropriating $15 million in state funds.

“We’ve transferred financial information that has come from the Bahamas and Costa Rica as requested by prosecutors, we’ve quickened the process, and I personally guaranteed that it happened,” interim Supreme Court President Florentin Meléndez said.

According to Meléndez, the information will help prosecutors track deposits and financial transfers made by the former president, whose whereabouts are unknown.

Flores is accused of stealing $15 million donated by the government of Taiwan during his administration, which lasted from 1999-2004.

On Tuesday, Justice Minister Ricardo Perdomo said officials are still seeking Flores to arrest him.

On Monday, current President Mauricio Funes said, “We’re continuing our efforts to find out where he [Flores] is. We don’t know if he’s in the country or not.”

Previous press reports had tracked Flores to Panama, but Panamanian officials deny that allegation.

As of last week, Flores’ name and photo appear on Interpol’s international fugitives website, which says he is accused of embezzlement, illicit enrichment and disobeying prosecutors’ orders.

On May 7, a San Salvador court issued an arrest warrant for Flores and the freezing of his assets including several homes, autos and boats.

The ex-president was investigated by the Salvadoran Congress and Prosecutor’s Office based on complaints filed by current President Funes in October 2013. That information was provided by the U.S. Treasury Department, which said Taiwan had made suspicious financial transfers to Flores in the amount of $10 million in 2003 and 2004.

On Feb. 26, a special legislative commission recommended prosecutors open an official investigation.

Trending Now

Costa Rica Presidential Candidate Eli Feinzaig Recovering

Presidential candidate and Congressman Eli Feinzaig of the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) underwent surgery Saturday night to repair a fractured sternum sustained in a...

Costa Rica Residency Backlog Hits 38,000 in October

Immigrants in Costa Rica continue to deal with long waits for their residence cards, known as DIMEX, as the immigration system struggles with backlogs....

Costa Rica Shaken by a Quake with No Injuries Reported

A strong earthquake struck near Quepos late last night, sending tremors across parts of our country and even into our neighbor Panama. The quake,...

Costa Rica Warns on Methanol Risks in Alcohol Amid Regional Outbreaks

Costa Rica's health officials have stepped up alerts on the dangers of methanol poisoning from contaminated alcohol, aligning with similar actions across Latin America...

Venezuela Arrests Suspects in Alleged CIA Cell Plotting Attack

Venezuela claimed Monday to have dismantled a CIA-financed cell plotting a false-flag attack on a US warship deployed to the southern Caribbean, as Washington...

U.S. Strikes Drug Boat in Pacific Near Colombia, Killing Two

The United States military carried out its first strike in the Pacific Ocean against a boat suspected of drug trafficking, killing two people near...
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