Mayor of Alajuela arrested for alleged influence peddling

Mayor Roberto Thompson faces multiple counts of criminal malfeasance and influence peddling.

August 28^th, 2015 (ICR News) The mayor of Alajuela, Roberto Thompson was arrested on suspicion of influence peddling on Thursday, less than 48 hours before he was scheduled to accept the nomination of the National Liberation Party (PLN) to run for reelection to his post until 2020.

Thompson, who has been the mayor of Alajuela since 2010, is listed as a suspect in an investigation into the apparently illegal issuance of a number of liquor licenses and commercial operating permits, according to prosecutors.  Thompson is facing charges of criminal malfeasance and influence peddling.

Prosecutors said that Thompson was involved in the illegal granting of liqueur licenses and permits to operate restaurants to the benefit of both himself and others.

Authorities raided the Alajuela municipal headquarters on Thursday to collect evidence.  Thompson was on vacation at the time and not present, but turned himself in later in the day.  He was released from jail at 4 a.m. Friday morning.

A Judge on Friday morning barred Thompson from his mayoral post for two months and said that he was to have no contact with witnesses involved in the case.

PLN spokespeople said that the arrest does not affect Thompson’s ability or candidacy to run for reelection.