COSTA RICA NEWS – Another judge has been fired, but this time by the Consejo Superior de la Corte Suprema de Justicia (the court itself), for refusing to give up his private notary License.
Olger León, a criminal court judge for the Upala (Alajuela) criminal court was relieved of his post effective Thursday, August 1, according to the press statement by the Departamento de Prensa y Comunicación Organizacional del Poder Judicial.
A court judge many not represent clients or perform private duties such as witnessing documents but the judge refused to surrender his notary credentials. He was fired for disobedience but the case is parallel to one accusing him of retaining funds that were under his official custody.
Leon was arrested July 24, accused of retaining ¢2 million colones (US$3.800) paid by a prisoner as bail for his freedom. Moreover, Leon is accused of delay in turning over to a beneficiary ¢320,000 colones (US$600) that a man had presented to the judge to pay alimony and child support.
Despite Leon’s being given a three month preventive prison, the Tribunal Penal de Hacienda (Criminal Court of the Treasury) in Goicoechea set him free.
The administrative process that led to the firing of León, was started by the Directorate General of Notaries in2007, when León was appointed as a judge, refused to deliver volume number three in his protocol journal that he should stay in custody of the Dirección de Notariado (Notary Directorate).
Sources: iNews.co.cr, La Nacion
