Pacheco In More Trouble Over Gifts
President Abel Pacheco continues to draw fire over accepting gifts and bonuses for personal use.

Earlier this week, the Internal Auditor at Casa Presidencial, Herberth Villavicencio, reprimanded the President in a letter, for accepting a lifetime membership for he and his wife by the government of the Dominican Republic, contrary to the new law "Ley contra la Corrupción y Enriquecimiento Ilícito" - the new anti-corruption law.

Yesterday, Telenoticias, the local television channel 7 news, reports another Presidential indiscretion; this one dating back to December of 2004, when the President and his wife travelled to Spain for a vacation and his book opening.

According to the Telenoticias investigation, the president paid from his personal pocketbook the flight from Miami to Madrid and Seville and back to Miami at a cost of ¢1.061.855 colones (us$2.300).

The question, however, is how did the president get to and from Miami from Costa Rica?

An investigation to answer that question reveals that TACA airlines did not charge the President the San José - Miami - San José portion of the trip.

Telenoticias was able to corroborate the fact the the President used tickets given to the government by the airline, valued at ¢270.000 colones (us$565), for he and his wife for the vacation trip.

Mario Zamora, manager of TACA airline in Costa Rica, confirmed that the two tickers were issued to the President and his wife, following news reports that the President was travelling to Miami.

The airline customarily provides the government of Costa Rica, primarily the Ministerio de la Presidencia and Aviacion Civil, free passage on it's airline. Zamora was emphatic that the free tickets are issued to the government and no particular person or for personal use, and based on a regulation by Aviación Civil.

The value of the tickets exceeded the "salario base" rule of the new anti-corruption law.

The "salario base" in December of 2004 was ¢167.800 colones (us$355) while the value of the tickets exceed that, which meant the President was obligated to have reported it.

President Pacheco explained that the December trip was a "completely personal trip" and nothing to do with his official capacity.

The anti-corruption law, signed by President Pacheco himself, came into effect on October 29, 2004, less than two months before the president accepted the free flight.

Article 20 of the anti-corruption law is clear that any donations and gifts received by a public official as a courtesy or diplomatic protocol are considered property of the state if the value is over the "salario base".

This is the second time in a week that President Pacheco is in hot water over his trips abroad.