Q COSTARICA — Former President Laura Chinchilla Miranda (2010 to 2014) urged Costa Ricans on Friday to apply their “indigenous cunning” to the controversial case of Randall Zúñiga, director of the Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ), who faces four accusations of alleged rape.
Through her social media accounts, the former president stated that she does not understand those who “rejoice in the situation” of the police chief and asserted that he is one of the “best public servants in the country.”
She also suggested that “indigenous cunning” should be used to analyze beyond the obvious.
“While no complaint should be dismissed and the judges were right to suspend the proceedings to investigate, we are talking about one of the best public servants. Someone who has effectively led the fight against organized crime and local gangs despite government obstacles. I don’t know about you, but our common sense should lead us to ask: why so much diligence and involvement of government officials in this case, when it involves the country’s greatest champion of justice against criminals?” Chinchilla wrote.
Chinchilla’s statements come amid a series of revelations that have called into question the origin and handling of the complaints against Zúñiga.
Despite the National Institute for Women (Inamu) executive president, Yerlin Zúñiga Céspedes, claims “it is false” that a lawyer from the Inamu, gave her the complaint “already drafted”, the alleged victim’s account coincides with that of the defense attorney for the head of the OIJ, Federico Campos, who asserted that officials from INAMU and the Joint Institute for Social Assistance (IMAS) allegedly offered “studies and other gifts.”
“At least two women were approached by officials from these state agencies who offered them something in exchange for a pre-written complaint. One of the complaints has already been filed with the Turrialba Prosecutor’s Office, and another is being filed today,” Campos stated.