(QCOSTARICA) The illegal detention of three U.S. citizens – one of them a minor., without cause, led to the arrest on Wednesday of the head of the Organismo de Investigación Judicial (OIJ) in Quepos, Puntarenas.
The official, identified by his last name Solano, is accused of stopping the vehicle in which the three Americans were travelling in, and hold them in the jail cells of the OIJ delegation for 45 minutes, and interrogated for more than 2 hours, without any reason.
In a press conference Wednesday afternoon, Attorney General (Fiscal General), Jorge Chavarria and Gerald Campos, assistant director of the OIJ, said one of the victims and the one to file the complaint, is a former police official and along with the other two, were in the country as tourists.
Another man, a Quepos resident identified as Corrales, but known in the area as Bombillo, and with no criminal record, was arrested for aiding Solano in the detention of the foreigners.
Chavarria said that, according to the statement filed by the former cop, on Friday, May 8 of this year, he noticed being followed by two cars and once stopped, Solano, tells him that he is wanted on an international warrant.
“They made the arrest and allegedly consulted Interpol. The former cop called a lawyer and Solano lets the three free, without any reason or explanation. That, coupled with the fact that in the process a civilian (Corrales) was involved, it presents a very mixed picture of the events,” said Chavarria.
Chavarria added that the consultation with Interpol never took place and that the OIJ official had been doing the same with others in the area, acts that were not for a public purpose, rather some private purpose, which the AG did not want to delve into at this time.
“Basically, there is the question of monopolistic activity of the real estate market (…) apparently related to a commercial real estate transaction in the area (…) an intimidating actions,” said Chavarria.
The deputy director of the OIJ confirmed that no warrant was pending against the American or any judicial proceeding that justified their detention.
The OIJ director added that during their investigation and wiretap scans, authorities identified Corrales as the principal go between, linked to another American who was having problems with three detained.
“The rest we will learn from the investigation”, said Campos.
Source: Nacion.com
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