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 In the case tittle Cochinilla, the Prosecutor investigates possible crimes such as bribery, embezzlement, irregular payments of government agreements, illicit association and peddling among others. - Judicial Investigation Organization photo -  |
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Published
Tuesday, June 15, 2021
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff The investigation of alleged corruption in the government, valued at over $126 million, led to the arrest of 29 people on Monday ordered by the Deputy Prosecutor's Office for Probity, Transparency and Anti-Corruption. In the case known as Cochinilla, the Prosecutor investigates possible crimes such as bribery, embezzlement, irregular payments of government agreements, illicit association and peddling among others. The agents arrested 23 men and six women. The suspects surnamed Cerdas, Bolaños, González, Arce, Bonilla, Solís, Abarca, Martínez, Herrera, Castro, Cervantes, Solís, Zúñiga, Madrigal, Carmona, Mora, Ortiz, Chavez, Rojas, Quesada, May, Zamora, Ureña, Quesada, Sánchez, Lobo, Monge, Rodríguez and Rivera. Among the people investigated is a man surnamed Saldarriaga-Jiménez, who was part of the election campaign team for President Carlos Alvarado. He continued to be one of the president's advisers until recently. Saldarriaga office inside the Presidential House, which is the homologous building to the White House in the United States, was also raided by the judicial agents. According to a brief statement published by President Alvarado on his social media, the investigation "was focused in the office of the presidential adviser surnamed Saldarriaga Jiménez, who by the characteristics of his duties has dealt with infrastructure matters (referring to infrastructure works developed in the country) and finance." President Alvarado announced Saldarriaga-Jiménez resignation to his duties as his adviser. The investigation began in 2019, when the alleged criminal organization was formed. The members of that group in exchange for helping private companies to obtain agreements with the government would receive cash, vehicles, property, trips among other benefits. According to the Prosecutor's Office, those arrested as suspects of committing crimes of corruption in the processes of hiring companies for infrastructure works were part of the National Viability Council, known as Conavi, which is part of the Ministry of Transport. A total of 550 investigative agents plus 100 specialists from the legal department of the Judiciary participated in the raids. The arrests were carried out in between 57 raids on the houses and offices of the suspects. Among those arrested are government workers and private companies. These companies have agreements with public institutions to do jobs such as road maintenance and construction in the country. "Allegedly, the detained public employees preferred private companies in the negotiation processes regarding the maintenance and construction of highways in the country," the Prosecutor said. The massive operation was carried out in the following private companies MECO, HSOLÍS, ITP, CASISA, Constructora Herrera in San Carlos, Constructora Montedes in Orotina and Alsofrutales in Heredia. The offices of Conavi and the houses of the suspects, located in Escazú, Santa Ana, Desamparados, Coronado and Sabanilla were raided. As well as houses located in the provinces of Cartago, Alajuela and Heredia. Agents seized computers, documents and other types of devices as part of the evidence in the case. The 29 suspects were taken to the cells of the Public Ministry where they were interrogated by the judicial agents and after that, they must wait until a judge orders the pre-trial measures against them.  A video of the raids released by the Judicial Investigation Organization can be seen on AM Costa Rica YouTube channel. -------------------------- Should the Prosecutor's Office speed up the investigation in this corruption case valued in millions of dollars? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com  Real Estate For Sale
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