The Ministro de Seguridad Publica, Mario Zamora, confirmed the purchase of 50 Toyota Land Cruiser vehicles, but denied they were bought to be used solely by police chiefs, as denounced by PAC legislator, Carmen Muñoz.
On Thursday, Muñoz said that Seguridad Publica (Public Security Ministry) had spent ¢2 billion colones (US$3.7 million dollars at today’s exchange rate) for the purchase of 50 luxury vehicles (US$74.000 per unit). According to the legislator, the vehicles are part of a purchase of 117 units.
Zamora said the legislator must be misinformed. In reality there were 550 vehicles purchased for a total spending of ¢16 billion colones.
The minister admitted that the 50 Land Cruisers were above average from the other vehicles purchased (Rav4 and Prado models), but insisted they are not “luxury” and will be used in police patrols in remote areas of the country.
