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Feb
12
Talamanca Mayor Arrested on Suspicion of Corruption
Posted by Editor | February 12, 2010 | Categories: Crime & Punishment | 13 Comments
 An agent stands guard outside the mayor’s house. Photo by Róger Amoretty, courtesy of La Nación |
The municipal mayor of Talamanca, Rugeli Morales Rodriguez, 45, was arrested yesterday morning by agents of the Office of Judicial Investigation (OIJ).
According to information from prosecutors, the mayor is under investigation, along with other local government officials, for the alleged diversion of municipal funds to personal accounts of ¢ 350 million ($640,000 US).
The Limon Deputy Attorney and OIJ agents raided the Municipality of Talamanca and the houses of the mayor and his mother. They seized documents and other evidence in the case.
The authorities also detained other men, one named Barrantes and another named Cortes. Both are employees of the municipality.
These individuals, along with the Mayor, are suspected of crimes of aggravated corruption of public officials and embezzlement and negotiations incompatible with elected office.
Authorities also apprehended several other individuals in the case, one with the surname Bastos, and another named Morales.
Mayor Morales was arrested at 4 a. m. while driving in the area of Vizcaya, some 60 miles from Bribrí.
The police officers approached him and he tried to flee, so a chase ensued until they managed to capture him.
However, his family denied he was running away and said that was heading to the Ministry of Public Works in San Jose, where he had a meeting at 8 a. m. They said he tried to flee when stopped because he thought he was being assaulted by thieves.
The Mayor was then taken to his home, which the authorities had already secured, and subsequently to the municipality to be a witness to the seizure of evidence.
More: La Nación: Alcalde de Talamanca preso por sospecha de corrupción
Comments
13 Comments so far
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About time!!! Interesting timing. Just after election where PLN takes landslide and promises to clean up corruption.
This mayor and his thugs were all voted in by native population. They are an independent political party. They have controlled the Talamanca Municipality for quite some time.
It has been local so-called “native leaders” that have rounded up local votes for these guys to ensure political victory. Interesting even though it was so obvious that corruption was rampant.
Now that PLN party even captured the vote of this area, they sweep in and clean out the garbage. Guess they did not want to take a chance in alienating voters before the election.
There will be a lot unfolding from this event that will affect the whole area. It will be interesting to see how it all unfolds. I really hope they also look at the integrity of the people that have been largely responsible for putting these people in office.
Let the show begin….
there were 3 alcaldes taken down at the same time, all from PLN, according to this article:
http://www.elpais.cr/articulos.php?id=19297
is the information incorrect, and rugeli morales was from an independent political party?
oops, i meant TWO were taken down at the same time and one was taken down in late january.
Hardly surprising but a disgrace nevertheless. Its a sad testament to business as usual in this Province that for decades is being held hostage to the unions (JAPDEVA) and elected officials more interested in lining their pockets then the common good of the people they are supposed to represent. Our only hope lays with the new president elect Laura Chinchilla to clean this mess up once and for all and invite progress and prosperity for all Limonenses
Where have I heard this story before? Natives want self-governement and then a few years later, they have leased out all reserve lands and set up casinos, selling un-taxed booze and cigs everywhere.
While there are a few people (very few) achieve unspeakable wealth, the bulk of the native population sees very little benefit from any of these deals and lives in absolute poverty.
I think it is hightime that people like Timateo Jackson step forward and explain to his community why these people were supported and elected.
I think PV resident has hit the nail on the head and look forward to hear what Timateo Jackson has to say for himself. And don´t tell me he didn´t know about all of this since it was the most well known secret for years. I sure hope that for the next round of the elections the indigineous voting block decide for themselves instead of blindly following the likes of Jackson and his cronies.
Roli and the rest of you ….clean up your act or YOUR NEXT…we are simply tired of being abused by the corruption at the Municipality of Talamanca. The coastal communities pays most of the taxes, let SOME of those taxes come back to improve our services! OUR tax dollars have been hijacked by this mayor – openly – and proudly – he has stated that he had no intention of re investing our tax dollars into our community.
I actually knew Rugeli from when was Director of the Bribri school. He and his family are all teachers, part of the area’s educated minority. Rugeli was never a transparent one so I can’t speak for him. This is essentially good news since the rule of law from time to time asserts itself, and yes, Roli and Co. will eventually go down too because they know no moderation. At the same time this is a blow to indigenous dignity and ability to have some say in local politics (they are the majority after all).
Do you know any uncorrupted people in political or economic power anywhere? Then you know the exception! I don’t know of any group in this world, from white bankers to tico cabina owners to black municipal workers who will are not tempted into ever-increasing spirals of greed and eventually betray their principles and worse, their own people. Usually though the small crooks get caught, the big ones run the place. Maybe somebody in the PLN wants his slice…
I have a feeling that the comments below about Timoteo Jackson, who I also know personally, are not well founded. I think he is just part of an indigenous politically active minority that would rather pull in their direction than have development go as usual toward the coast where the money is.
Well said Johnny!
I think what people get tired of is the sanctimonious finger-pointing from self-proclaimed representatives of Native community that they are more pure and that development is responsible for all their problems and most guilty of greed.
I have heard it spoken many times (including on this board)from these people to remind people that they “control the vote” for this area.
You might want to also keep in mind that it would most likely be expats that are constantly harassed by these crooked officials – so you can imagine the satisfaction they are going to take in their arrest and being sick of the “Let them eat cake” attitude that is dished out from the Muni and it’s supporters.
Estimados(as) asociados(as) de CATCCAS:
La Camara esta muy preocupada por los constantes problemas administrativos, financieros y de moral que envuelven a la Municipalidad de Talamanca.
Ya estamos cansados de tantas denuncias, acusaciones, perdida de dineros, o bien malgasgtados, falta de controles financieros, falta de transparencia etc.
Se les acusa de desviacion de fondos pero NO SE VEN LAS OBRAS DE INFRASETRUCTURA EN NUESTROS PUEBLOS !!! SIGUE LA BASURA, LOS CAMINOS PESIMOS, NO SE PROMUEVE LA CULTURA NI SE HACEM MERCADEO DEL CANTON PARA ATRAER MAS TURISTAS ETC.
Por eso CATCCAS le ha solicitado a las Vice Alcaldesas que urgentemente nos den una audiencia publica a fin de podamos asistir a la misma y que se nos den explicaciones de que RUMBO TIENE ESA MUNICIIPALIDAD y como pretenden funcionar sin Presidente Municipal, sin Alcalde, sin Contador etc.
Puerto resident, I’d urge you to be careful about passing such harsh judgment on the indigenous community.
Don’t forget, Manuel Leon Salazar, the man many people refer to as “Chino” is also half Bri Bri Indian.
I don’t think he’d take terribly kindly to you making such sweeping generalizations about the Bri Bri people.
Manuel, a member of Laura’s party, has captured one of the municipal council seats, along with another member of the same party.
But the old guard still controls 3 seats on that five member council.
Manuel’s campaign literature was quite frank in pointing out just how badly Rugeli had sold out the interests of the Bri Bri.
In fact, one campaign flyer of manuel’s accused Rugeli of actually being ashamed of his Bri Bri heritage.
It’s the majority indigenous voting bloc that’s aligned with people like Manuel and others concerned about the impact of a marina on PV who have stood in opposition to that proposed marina.
Rugeli was all for it, no doubt the kickbacks were being going to be huge if he could help get it thru.
So, again, as someone who’s lived here a while, be careful about questioning the motives of an entire community of people.
Doing so is unlikely to put you in good standing with a WHOLE lot of people.
I would hardly call Manuel Leon Salazar anything else but another recycled member of the old guard. Where are the new young leaders with fresh ideas ?