Rodríguez Keeps His Word
As he had said all along, former Costa Rican president, Miguel Angel Rodríguez, arrived in Costa Rica at 2:25pm, greeted by waiting Judicial agents, who handcuffed the man and sped him away to the San José court house, to give his declarations before the Fiscalía de Delitos Economicos.

Rodríguez who until the time of his detention was Secrerary General of the Organization of American States (OAS) remained calm during the ordeal.

The motorcade, with Rodríguez riding in one of the two police wagons, was carried off like a common criminal, being denied his petition to exit by the diplomatic doors that is customarily afforded local politicos and foreign diplomats.

The transfer went smooth as crowds tried to get a glimpse of the former president, to shout insults and obscenities at him. Though the police wagon does not have any windows to look out or in, voices can he heard clearly.

Once arriving at the court house in downtown San José, security was tight and steel curtains drawn to avoid any potential problems.

Rodríguez is expected to give his declarations, following which will be made if the man is to be held in jail, under house arrest as is the case with several others accused in scandals or be set free, on the condition that he be available for further questioning.


Rodríguez was president of Costa Rica for the period 1998-2002, leaving the seat to the current president Abel Pacheco, who belong to the same political party, the Partido Unidad Social Cristiana (PUSC).

Rodríguez took office at the OAS last September 15, but lasted less than one month at the post, since he was forced to resign after his alleged involvement in accepting bribes from the French telecommunications firm Alcatel and the government of Taiwan.