[dailyarchive/2004_10/exchange_rates.htm]
Daily Edition: San José, Costa Rica, October 21, 2004
 |
| HOT seat: Former Costa Rican President Rafael Angel Calderón (1990-94) was accused yesterday by Eliseo Vargas, former president of the Social Security System (Caja) who is under investigation for alleged corruption, of being the mastermind behind the corruption scandal involving the Caja, according to a report on Channel 7 TV News. Calderón told the press the allegations are “lies.” |
|
|
|
|
|
Transparency International:
Country Doesn't Pass
Corruption Test
“Costa Rica is first among the bad,” or, the best of the most corrupt, according to Mario Carazo, head of Transparency International Costa Rica.
(Click for more)
Judicial Investigators Confirm
Comptroller General Forged
Signatures
The Comptroller General of Costa Rica, Alex Solís, forged 27 signatures of family members in his power as an attorney, concluded the Judicial Investigation Police (OIJ) at the request of a group of legislators investigating alleged irregularities of the comptroller.
(Click for more)
October 21
Musician Patricio Torres
Torres will perform his collection of original songs “Perfume de América, la Principita,” with Gerardo Mora playing drums and Juan José Torres playing sax, tonight at Salamandra, La Florida de Tibás. Info: 245-0658.
Shake your Body
Merecumbé is holding a Rumba Night at El Observatorio Bar, in front of Cine Magaly, Barrio La California, 10 p.m. Info: 223-0725.
Theater Night
The University of Costa Rica will perform the play “Mujeres que Beben Vodka” at 8 p.m. tonight and tomorrow at the Fine Arts Auditorium, School of Fine Arts.
Edited By Rebecca Kimitch
Tico Times Staff
rkimitch@ticotimes.net
Transparency International:
Country Doesn't Pass Corruption Test
By Robert Goodier
Tico Times Staff
rgoodier@ticotimes.net
“Costa Rica is first among the bad,” or, the best of the most corrupt, according to Mario Carazo, head of Transparency International Costa Rica.
He presented the organization's 2004 Global Corruption Report yesterday, opening his speech with those words.
Costa Rica registers 4.9 out of 10 on the Perception of Corruption Index, which is a slight improvement over last year, the report states. But if this were school, a 4.9 would still be a failing grade, Carazo said. Countries like Finland and New Zealand enjoy index ratings of more than 9.5, while Haiti and Bangladesh wallow at 1.5.
The polls for the index were completed before the latest corruption scandals erupted in Costa Rica, and Carazo said it is too soon to tell what effect they will have on next year's rating.
Carazo said that instead of a negative effect of the scandals on the rating, Costa Rica's handling of corruption could afford an example to other countries.
“We are noticing we have a trustworthy and efficient penal process,” he said. “At first it looked like it was only (Chief Prosecutor Francisco) Dall'Anese, but now we realize it's the whole system.”
In order to keep the country from sinking to the levels of corruption of some of its neighbors, Carazo recommended Costa Rica “continue developing a culture of anti-corruption.”
Judicial Investigators Confirm
Comptroller General Forged Signatures
The Comptroller General of Costa Rica, Alex Solís, forged 27 signatures of family members in his power as an attorney, concluded the Judicial Investigation Police (OIJ) at the request of a group of legislators investigating alleged irregularities of the comptroller.
After learning of the OIJ report, Patriotic Bloc legislator Humberto Arce, who originally filed the complaint against the comptroller, said the evidence is sufficient to nullify the naming of Solís. The Legislative Assembly named Solís to his position earlier this year.
Using handwriting analysis, the OIJ determined Solís forged the signatures of his mother, his wife and his brother, while acting as a lawyer.
The OIJ had determined in September that approximately 39 signatures in the protocol of Solís – lawyer and notary – were false, but at that time did not determine their author.
A special Legislative Assembly commission is investigating Solís in relation to these alleged forgeries, and dozens of loans made to residents of Pérez Zeledón, 100 kilometers south of San José, where he is from (TT, July 2).
According to media reports, many of the loans Solís made were used by unemployed people to travel illegally to the United States.
Solís has rejected the accusations, and attributes them to politicians who are against him.
-- AFP
Daily News | Home | Top Story | Business News | Central American News
Editorial Cartoon | Weekend | Exchange Rates | Fishing | Culture | Classified Ads
Display Ads | Subscribe! | Travel Guide | Archives | Links | About Us | Newsstand Locations
Contact Us