Miguel Angel Rodríguez Returns to Costa Rica and Now Behind Bars
Former president Miguel Ángel Rodríguez Echeverría kept his word that he would return to Costa Rica and face Costa Rica justice on accusations that he took money from the French telecommunications firm, Alcatel, and as revealed in the last few days, also accepted money from the government of Taiwan.

In total, the former president is said to have received some us$4.400.000 in bribes and payoffs during and after his presidency.

An international warrant was issued by Costa Rican authorities to ensure that Rodríguez would return to Costa Rica once his resignation as Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS) would come into effect today, 15 October 2004.

Franciso Dall'Anese was adamant that Rodríguez return to Costa Rica and told the press earlier this week that the former president had two choices: return voluntarily or by force.

Costa Rican authorities alerted U.S. officials of the warrant and had asked that they arrest Rodríguez at his office if necessary, once his diplomatic immunity expired.

Rodríguez resigned as head of the OAS last Friday, only after a few weeks at the post, as the first Costa Rican to ever hold such a high position at the OAS and the first to resign for charges of corruption.

Rumours Friday morning were confirmed shortly after Rodríguez boarded a Grupo TACA  flight in Washington D.C., headed for Costa Rica with a stopover in San Salvador.

Rodríguez's last day at work meant that he would be leaving the lush and plush of a plum job, trading a chauffeur driven limousine for a police escort to jail. One can only wonder what went through the man's mind as the flight took its final approach into the Juan Santamaria airport, knowing that authorities were anticipating his arrival.

The TACA flight arrived on schedule at 2:25pm.

Moments following touch down, Organismo de Investigacion Judicial (OIJ) agents boarded the aircraft and cuffed Rodríguez, placing him under arrest.

Rodríguez was escorted by Judicial agents to an awaiting police wagon, locally called "la perrera" (the kennel).

Security was tight and reports indicated that Rodríguez was asked to wear a bullet proof vest for his own security. The former president was wearing a grey suit, white shirt and a black tie. He was accustomed to always wearing a black tie in remembrance of his son who died some years back in an equestrian accident.

The police motorcade sped off from the airport, along the Bernado Soto highway that connects to San José, to the underground parking lot of the First Circuit Court of San José, where he remained in a holding cell until prosecutors and other judicial officials were ready to interview him.

A report was made across television stations, who had cameras posted at the airport, the courthouse and helicopters flying overhead, that Rodríguez had felt ill and dizzy. However, it was confirmed later that the man was in good health.

Perhaps, the welcome Rodríguez received wasn't what he had expected.

As still head of the OAS, he was still under diplomatic immunity and it would have been custom to afford diplomatic treatment to the man, for example, being escorted from the airport by way of the diplomats exit and certainly not in handcuffs and a ride in 'la perrera'.

Costa Rican officials had said earlier in the week that the Secretary General would have no diplomatic immunity in Costa Rica and that he would be arrested on arrival.

Judicial officials made dry runs on Thursday following the circulation of rumours that Rodríguez would be arriving on Thursday, one day earlier than expected.

Rumours were still circulating in the early hours of Friday morning that Rodríguez was considering offers from Venezuela and the Dominican Republic of political asylum. However, the former president kept his word, travelling to Costa Rica alone to avoid embarrassment to his wife and family.

Crowds had gathered outside the airport terminal shouted obscenities and insults for the former president to hear as he rode in the steel enclosed "perrera".

The same shouts and chants were heard in front of the courthouse building as the police motorcade made its way into the underground lot and closed the steel doors of the parking garage for security.

Television mobile crews camped out outside the tribunals waiting on the news of what was going on inside. At 4:30pm sharp courthouse employees started to make their way out of the building, ending their workday, knowing that this was an historic moment in Costa Rican history.

This was the first time that a former Costa Rican president was behind bars. And for corruption no less. The first time Costa Ricans had to deal with this type of situation, not sure how to handle the strong sentiments and emotions that events provoked.

"Now he will rice and beans", was a common sentiment, referring to the typical meals served in Costa Rican jails.

"He won't got to jail. The poor stay in jail, the rich go home", was also being repeated by many.

"Well done. Justice is for all - the rich, the poor, the politicians", was a comment made by an old timer who didn't want to give his name.

At about 9:30pm, Rodríguez was placed in an unmarked police van this time, for his ride to the Second Circuit Courthouse in Goicochea, where he would spend then night in the court jail cells.

Rodríguez is expected to remain there until a judge is presented before a judge to hear the charges and a decision on the preventive measures that will be applied against the former president will me made.

A decision could come as late as Monday.


Rodríguez was president of Costa Rica for the period 1998-2002, leaving the seat to the current president Abel Pacheco, who belong to the same political party, the Partido Unidad Social Cristiana (PUSC).

Rodríguez took office at the OAS last September 15, but lasted less than one month at the post, since he was forced to resign after his alleged involvement in accepting bribes from the French telecommunications firm Alcatel and the government of Taiwan.