Minister Arias In Hot Water
Over Alleged Misuse of BCIE Funds
Rodrigo Arias, Costa Rica's ministro de la Presidencia and brother
to president Oscar, is being investigated by the Contraloría General
de la República (Comptroller's office), for the poor management of
consulting contracts paid for with funds of the Banco
Centroamericano de Integración Económica (BCIE).
The Comptroller indicates in two reports that in 2007 a number of
consulting contracts paid for with BCIE funds went with little or no
control.
The controversy is over us$2 million dollars donated by the BCIE and
spread around in various small contract to friends.
Arias, in a press conference late Thursday said he is aware of the
investigation against him, an investigation that could cost him his
post, and has filed a "recurso de amparo" (writ) with the Sala
Constitucional (Constitutional Court) and that the investigation
should stop until the court rules on his writ.
Arias added that with the rise of the controversy the ministerio de
la Presidencia will no longer be handling BCIE funds.
Minister Arias, in his defence, told the press last night that the
Contraloría said on October 22, 2008, that money from the BCIE were
not public funds and thus were not under the supervision of the
Contraloría, which is now changing its opinion and claiming the
funds public.
The contradiction, according to Arias, is that the Contraloría now
says the BCIE funds are public. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
