Preventive Measures
Lifted Against Former
President Rodríguez
A judge has removed
preventive measures of
having to sign in every
15 days at the
Tribunales de Justicia
and be not leave the
country, against former
Costa Rican president,
Miguel Ángel Rodríguez
(1998-2002).
The preventive measures
were placed against the
former president as he
is being investigated
for his role in the
ICE-Alcatel case.
The order was signed
Nuria Villalobos Solano
after she found no basis
to maintain the
preventive measures
against Rodríguez.
Rodríguez was detained
at the airport when he
voluntarily returned to
Costa Rica, placed in
jail for months, then
ordered under house
arrest and finally was
able to move freely as
long as he didn't leave
the country and signed
in every 15 days, while
the Fiscalia builds its
case of corruption for
receiving a commission
on the Alcatel GSM
network contract.
Eight others are also
accused in the case.
Judge Villalobos said
that the judges who
placed the preventive
measures contradicted
themselves in the
original order.
"It is an incredible
sensation for at last I
have the same rights as
everyone else. I have to
suffer with restrictions
for more than four
years, restrictions that
made no sense, as
everyone knows I came
back voluntarily to face
the Tribunals. The
restrictions caused me
great injury, including
being jailed
unjustifiably, my
ability to move about to
earn a living, my
international image and
my image in the country,
obstacles to see my
family and friends and
many other things", said
Rodríguez after learning
of the lifting of the
restrictions.
Rodríguez added, "The
judges have been
gradually giving us the
reason. And what makes
for a very simple
reason: because we are
right. After a long
fight for a fair trial,
being heard and that
will weigh the arguments
for their legal value,
and not in the midst of
pressures and media
scandals, finally begins
the justice. I will
continue fighting."
The former president has
maintained all along
that he innocent and
that he is the subject
of a witch hunt by
judicial authorities,
who have trampled his
rights over and over.
|
