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Prosecutor's
Office begins extradition of former Catholic
priest suspected of sexual crimes against minors
By
the A.M. Costa Rica staff
The Computer Crimes Division of the Department of Criminal Investigations, the Judicial Investigation Organization and Interpol reported that since April, a joint investigation has been carried out with Mexican authorities as the Electronic Crime Prevention Unit and the Mexican Federal Police with the goal of finding a Costa Rican man, Mauricio Antonio Víquez-Lizano, who is a former Catholic priest suspected of four sexual crimes against minors. According to the judicial agents' report, on August 18th, the suspect was arrested in the city of Monterrey, Mexico, specifically in the area called Santo Domingo, in San Nicolás de Los Garza, in Nuevo León. "The subject was located after an investigation on social media and other advanced computer research by investigators of the Computer Crimes Division," the judicial agents said in its statement. The investigation began in April, with information provided on a confidential line number 800 8000 645. That lead was investigated by the Division of Computer Crimes on social networks and other Internet platforms. It confirmed the suspect was in Mexico. The judicial agents then coordinated with the Electronic Crime Prevention Unit of the Mexican Federal Police to start the investigation in that country. "Through computer research and police investigation proceedings, as well as daily coordination between law enforcement units the fugitive was apprehended, after raiding where he was hiding," said the judicial agents said in its report. Since February, the Criminal Court of the city of Deamparados* ordered the international capture of Víquez-Lizano, related to several cases of rape against minors, of which one was at risk of expiring on September 26th, which is why Interpol generated the Red Alert for the capture of the suspect. According to the investigations, the former Catholic priest left the country, entered Panama and in January traveled to Mexico. After his detention, the judicial agents in Costa Rica are carrying out the extradition process. According to the Emilia Navas, General Attorney, this extradition process of Víquez-Lizano reactivates the case against him and automatically suspends the risk of expiration. "We make a respectful call to people who are victims of sexual crimes for this or other cases, it is important to approach the Public Ministry and denounce," said Emilia Navas, General Attorney. Before the capture of former Catholic father, the Catholic church of Costa Rica, said they were collaborating with authorities. They also reported that the church "has had no contact with the suspect and did not know his location," said the Metropolitan Curia in its statement. On May, as was reported on A.M. Costa Rica, Jason Granados spokesman of Costa Rican Catholic Church, confirmed that Víquez-Lizano was sentenced to the maximum sanction imposed by the church in cases such as pedophilia. Granados said that the resolution, issued on February reads: "Imposed to the Reverend Víquez Lizano, priest of the Archdiocese of San José, the perpetual and expiatory sentence of expulsion from the Clerical State." Regarding the position of the Catholic Church in the specific case of former priest Víquez-Lizano, Mr. Granados said that "he must face the case and surrender to the authorities." The Vatican sentence can be appealed. To appeal, Víquez-Lizano has 60 days to file. "If in 60 days he does not file an appeal then that sentence will un-appealable," said Granados. According to Granados, Catholic Church officials could not find Víquez-Lizano to notify him about the Vatican resolution. On Feb. 21, a judge in the Desamparados city court requested an international arrest warrant for Víquez-Lizano, who is charged with the sexual abuse of two children in 2003. The suspect is being investigated for the alleged rape of two men surnamed Rodríguez and Venegas who were minors in 2003. The press office of the Catholic Church confirmed that the paperwork had already been done at the internal level of the organization and that the ex-priest had been asked to appear before the prosecution and face the case. Auxiliary bishop Daniel Blanco, of the Archdiocese of San José, said, "the Church has not put, or will put, any obstacle to this process. We ask Mr. Víquez-Lizano to surrender to the authorities." ------------------------ Should the Prosecutor's Office speed up the process of extradition of the suspect, due to the seriousness of the case? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com |
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