Pacheco to Return DR Gift But Can Keep Gift Given to Him By George W. Bush
It's definite. President Abel Pacheco has to give back the lifetime membership to the most luxurious resort - Capa Cana - in the Dominican Republic, given to him by the Hazoury on May 14 while he was visiting that nation.

The internal auditor at Casa Presidencial, Herberth Villavicencio, notified the president in writing that Pacheco must return the gift. The gift was also extended to the president's wife, Leila Rodríguez de Pacheco.

The letter says that the gift transfers no benefit to the state and thus should not have been accepted by the president. The letter also critizes the president for having accepted a free ride - air fare - from the United States to the Dominican Republic, following Pacheco's meeting with U.S. President, George W. Bush, and then to San José.

Villavicencio said in the letter than this type of practice goes against the administration's policy of transparency and good administrative practice.

The auditor also added that all details following "official" foreign visits and gifts should be published in the official newspaper, La Gaceta.

President Pacheco felt obligated to hand over the gifts to the auditor's office following accusations by some legislative deputies that the president many have violated the "Ley contra la Corrupción y Enriquecimiento Ilícito" - anti-corruption law.

The law came into effect in October of 2004 after president Pacheco himself signed it, prohibits public officials from receiving gifts.

"It was wrong of me. I thought, well, since I've boarded the airplanes Fox (Mexican president) and that of Alvaro Uribe (Colombia's president) to go here and there, why not this. But, yes, it was wrong, I recognize that and offer my apologies", were the words of president Pacheco who seemed nervous and kept drinking water as he read his the auditor's letter to the press.

Just last week, president Pacheco was upset at the daily Spanish language newspaper Al Día when it reported the gifts, denying that he made a mistake when the newspaper pressed for an answer, considering his invitation to the Hazoury family to invest in Costa Rica as a national act.

However, it wasn't all sadness for Pacheco. Auditor Villavicencio said that Pacheco can keep the gift - a keepsake bos - given to him by president Bush. The box can be purchased online for between $135 and $375 dollars and since it doesn't reach "un salario base" - base salary, it cannot be considered property of the state.

Article of the of the anti-corruption law states that any gift received by a public official that is the same or higher than a "salario base" becomes property of the state and must be reported.

President Pacheco was happy to be able to keep the gift, saying "it's really nice", however, it's "not the treasure of the Isla del Coco".