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Finland to Reform Foreign Aid
The Finnish Ambassador to
Central America, Inger Hirvela,
said that her country is
modifying the procedures to
control its foreign aid, after
admitting that the sale of
medical equipment to Costa Rica
is the first case of corruption,
in 40 years linked to
cooperation funds.
The diplomat made the statement
in a letter to the president of
the Caja Costarricense de Segula
Social (CCSS), following the
definite report to the
Government of Finland from the
renowned Swiss auditing firm SGS
on the corruption scandal linked
to the sale of medical equipment
to the CCSS.
The Swiss firm concluded that
the contract limitations imposed
on Costa Rica for a us$39
million loan would have likely
prompted bribery and corruption.
SGS also concluded that 23
percent of the medical equipment
bought with the loan was not
necessary.
Several high profile
individuals, including former
Costa Rican president, Rafael
Angel Calderón who is under
house arrest after spending six
months in preventive detention
(jail), are under investigation
linked to the corruption
scandal.
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