Costa Rica Tries Corrupt
Police Officers
The Ministerio de
Seguridad Publica filed
1,500 lawsuits against
police officers and
dismissed 55 others in
the last seven months,
due to corruption, drug
consumption, absences
and other crimes and
misbehaviors.
Seguridad minister,
Janina del Vecchio,
stated that
investigating corruption
is a priority, although
there are other crimes,
as appropriation of
State property,
including weapons, food,
and computers, using
official vehicles for
personal use, abuse of
authority, and
non-fulfillment of their
duties for retributions.
In 2008, from January to
July, 28 police agents
were dismissed due to
absences, nine for
corruption, and 11 for
drug abuse, mostly crack
and marijuana, said the
official, who assumed
the post on April 15.
Ministerial data
revealed that 214 police
agents were suspended,
without salary for up to
30 days, 164 of whom
were absent, mostly
devoted to personal
affairs.
In 2007, they worked
with 1,582 files, and
now we have filed 1,500
lawsuits. That is a
fluctuating figure,
because there are more
cases each month, while
some police agents are
tried two, three or four
times, said the
minister.
Del Vecchio called the
population to report
misbehaviour and crimes
committed by police,
using the telephone
number 176, sending
messages to the
institution's web page
or directly at the Legal
Disciplinary Department.
Seguridad authorities
decided to increase the
personnel in charge of
investigations, from 11
to 17, that includes
four more lawyers.
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