Despite Thursday corruption arrest, mayor of Alajuela receives nomination to seek reelection

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

August 31^st, 2015 (ICR News) Despite having been arrested on Thursday on suspicion of influence peddling, the mayor of Alajuela, Roberto Thompson has nonetheless won the nomination of the National Liberation Party (PLN) to run for reelection to his post until 2020 in the February 7^th, 2016 municipal elections.

The mayor announced the win shortly before 2 p.m. on Saturday.

Thompson won by default after a closed-door meeting with party officials and the other PLN candidate for the post, Marvin Matarrita, in which Matarrita withdrew his candidacy.

Thompson, who was arrested on suspicion of influence peddling on Thursday, 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.

Thompson has been the mayor of Alajuela since 2010.