No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeTopicsCrimePresident Solís asks Prosecutor's Office to review ethics report on former transport...

President Solís asks Prosecutor’s Office to review ethics report on former transport minister

President Luis Guillermo Solís’ campaign pledge to root out corruption in government might be starting to take shape this week. During a press conference Tuesday, the president said his office had sent a copy of the Comptroller General’s report investigating alleged ethics violations by former Public Works and Transport Minister Pedro Castro to the Chief Prosecutor to determine if there are grounds for a criminal investigation.

The Comptroller’s report determined that Castro’s actions “generated doubt about his rectitude, impartiality, objectivity and transparency” when he did not alert members of the Administrative Council of the National Roadway Council about his former relationship with Compañía Asesora de Construcción (CACISA) and did not abstain from discussions or votes to grant CACISA contracts as part of the troubled 1856 Juan Rafael Mora Porras border roadway, also known as “La trocha.”

Castro served in former President Laura Chinchilla’s administration (2010-2014) from October 2012 until 2014.

Now that Castro is no longer a minister, he does not have impunity from prosecution. Tatiana Vargas, spokeswoman for the Prosecutor’s Office, told The Tico Times in an email that the documents would be sent Wednesday morning to the Deputy Prosecutor for Probity, Transparency and Anti-Corruption for review. No investigation has been announced against Castro.

The report dismissed another complaint filed against the former MOPT chief that he used his office to grant another highway concession to Brazilian contractor OAS, for whom he also worked as a consultant. OAS’ highway concession was ultimately cancelled following public outcry about the lack of transparency in the contracts and high tolls proposed. Chinchilla’s administration settled the cancelled concession with OAS, a Brazilian contractor, for $35 million in March.

Trending Now

Climate Change in Costa Rica Devastates Coffee Farms in Los Santos

In Costa Rica’s Los Santos region, famous for producing nearly half the country’s coffee, farmers are reeling from heavy losses driven by wild weather....

Why Costa Rica Feels Like a Safe Haven for This Longtime Expat

If someone asked me to sum up why I live in Costa Rica in 5 words or less, my answer could well be: “It...

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 Top Court Bans President Chaves from 2026 Election Campaign

Costa Rica’s Supreme Electoral Tribunal on Thursday barred President Rodrigo Chaves from participating in the 2026 election campaign, ruling that he "illegitimately used" his...

Fishing, Wildlife, and History in Costa Rica’s Barra del Colorado

Costa Rica’s Barra del Colorado is a magical and charming town. It’s one of the country’s hidden gems, best known for its world-class sport...

Honduras Seizes $2 Million, Gold-Plated Pistols in Drug Raid

Honduran authorities struck a blow against drug cartels, seizing over $2 million in cash, war rifles, and flashy gold-plated pistols in Copán, a northwest...
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