Mayor of Alajuela back at his post despite corruption arrest, ongoing probe

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

September 10^th, 2015 (ICR News) Mayor of Alajuela, Roberto Thompson is back at his post Thursday after a judge on Wednesday lifted a restriction barring Thompson from office for two months.

Thompson, who was arrested on suspicion of influence peddling on August 27th, 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 say that Thompson was involved in the illegal granting of liqueur licenses and permits to operate restaurants to the benefit of both himself and others.

Despite the arrest, Thompson won the National Liberation Party (PLN) nomination on August 29^th to run for reelection to his post until 2020 in the February 7^th, 2016 municipal elections.

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 has been the mayor of Alajuela since 2010.

Despite being reinstated to his post, the court ordered that Thompson is to have no contact with witnesses in the case.  He is also barred from the municipal department in charge of issuing commercial licenses and permits, and the municipality’s IT department.