COSTA RICA NEWS — Limón Judge Rosa Elena Gamboa, 62, suspected of having ordered free a narco-trafficking suspect in exchange for a ¢20 million colon bribe, was released from jail this week by order of Judge Jeancarlos Monge of the Fiscal Criminal Court of Goicoichea.
The accused judge had served four months preventive detention but prosecutors had petitioned for a two month extension of the prison time. Preventive detention is ordered both to give time for prosecutors to prepare evidence as well as to prevent destruction of evidence and threats to witnesses and their families.
The lady judge’s defense petitioned the court to suspend further detention so she could have surgery to reset a broken arm Monday. But Judge Monge ordered other preventive measures such as suspension of Judge Gamboa’s duties, signing in periodically with police, a gag order not to communicate with witnesses.
She is also barred from entering the court or communicating with its personnel and an order not to leave the country.
The need for the last restriction was underscored this week when a suspect in a fraud case was detained at Juan Santamaria International before boarding an international flight. The suspect, a pediatric surgeon at a private hospital here, had a no-fly order but was picked up by Immigration authorities attempting to leave the country.
Prosecutors have released no details about the case.
Article by iNews.co.cr, reposted with permission
