Costa Rica swears in its first woman Chief Prosecutor

On Monday afternoon, Emilia Navas became the first woman in Costa Rican history to be elected Chief Prosecutor.

Navas, 53, has led the Prosecutor’s Office as an interim since October 2017, when her predecessor, Jorge Chavarría, was suspended in relation to the unfolding investigation of alleged corruption. Navas proceeded to make headlines through what was acclaimed as decisive action in that case, popularly known as the cementazo because it centers on the importation of Chinese cement, and in others.

The 22 judges of the various chambers of Costa Rica’s Supreme Court voted unanimously to elect Navas over the other candidate, Ronald Segura.

Navas said in a statement from the Judicial Branch that corruption and organized crime will be her priorities during her term, which ends in 2022.

How Costa Rica’s cement market became a hotbed of intrigue