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Chinchilla under fire for ‘drugs jet’ scandal, could face charges as resignations mount

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President Laura Chinchilla (archive photo)

May 17th, 2013 (InsideCostaRica.com) President Laura Chinchilla remains embroiled in scandal today after revelations that she used a private jet made available by Gabriel Morales Fallon – a Colombian suspected of having links to drug trafficking, and his company that has been questioned by Colombian authorities for money laundering.

 

In a televised address to the country last night, Chinchilla announced that the head of intelligence and security, Mauricio Boraschi and presidential aide Irene Pacheco were both stepping down.  The announcement came after the resignation of communications minister Francisco Chacon on Wednesday.

 

President Chinchilla used the private jet in March to fly to Venezuela for the funeral of the former leader, Hugo Chavez.  She then used the plane again last weekend for a private trip to Peru, where she attended a wedding.

 

It has since emerged that both the jet, and its owner, Gabriel Morales Fallon, were under investigation by Costa Rican authorities for possible ties to drug trafficking.

 

Communication Minister, Francisco Chacon said that Fallon had deceived him regarding his identity and the identity of his company, saying that Fallon “tricked” him, prior to his resignation on Wednesday.   Chacon admitted that he didn’t fully vet Fallon.

 

Chinchilla to face possible charges?

 

Attorney General, Jorge Chavarria, confirmed earlier this week that his office is looking into possible charges against the President, after receiving a complaint filed by Rep. Patricia Perez.  The complaint accuses the president of violating the Act Against Corruption and Illicit Enrichment.

 

The Attorney General’s Office said that it was in a “preliminary investigation process of the events that occurred last weekend.”

 

Meanwhile, Walter Cespedes of the Social Christian Unity Party (PUSC) is calling on Chinchilla to “set a good example” by temporarily stepping down and “going on vacation.”

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  • mhogan

    Before any public official puts him/herself in a potentially compromising position, they should think carefully. Or maybe that’s a foreign concept; or don’t care because they are untouchable. It’s always amusing to watch someone try to squeeze out of a mess. Good thing most people have a short memory or candidates for future public office would be scarcer than hen’s teeth.

  • http://www.facebook.com/aitor.xaranga Aitor Xaranga

    Interestingly the “drugs jet” is owned by Beech Financial Corp.(See FAA records). I wonder if the boys in Wichita are aware of the particular uses of this plane. Fast and Furious?

  • http://www.facebook.com/marcelmpfister Marcel M. Pfister

    As far as I am concerned, the real scandal here is that Francisco Chacon was dealing with someone in the context of hiring a private jet for the president’s private trip to Peru. Everywhere in Costa Rica – on any occasion – one’s being asked for a “cedula” – some form of ID. Why would Minister Chacon deal with someone simply based on a business card rather than some formal identification? That’s where things took their wrong turn.

  • georgechapogas

    do you get the feeling that Ortega, Laura and obozo could rotate jobs and everything would be the same? each are uselesss stupid selfish idiots whose first inclination is to lie.

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