Two Traffic Officials
Arrested For Extorting Bribes From Drivers
The new Ley de Tránsito has been a hot topic
for the past 26 days, as the high fines, new
point system and zero tolerance by the
Policía de Tránsito has made the headlines
and has begun a change in Costa Rica's
social culture.
However, to enterprising Tránsito (traffic)
officials decided to take advantage of the
new law and accused of trying to fill their
pockets with "mordidas" (bribes).
As such, the Organismo de Investigación
Judicial (OIJ) responded to charges filed
against two Tránsitos who on Thursday were
detained in Jacó for allegedly extorting
money from a foreigner to avoid a traffic
ticket.
The accusation was that the two officials,
identified by the last names Jiménez Herrera
and Jiménez Chavarría, were "hunting" for
"foreigner clients".
One the them Jiménez Herrera is not stranger
to accusations of accepting bribes as he has
a history of accusations.
For now the two officials have been
suspended from duty for a month waiting a
preliminary hearing.
Article 340 of the Código Penal (Penal Code)
calls for a prison term of two to eight
years for a public official who abuses his
or her authority.
The investigation of the two officials had
been ongoing for several months, as various
drivers had complained of being asked to pay
a bribe but never filed an official
complaint.
The man who filed the complaint that led to
the arrest on Thursday was not identified
but said to be a North American who did not
want the officials to go without being
punished.
The North American filed the complaint
Wednesday night, saying that he was
intercepted by three traffic officials from
Jacó who gave him a breathalyzer test that
proved negative.
The tourist, who was travelling with his
wife and daughter, said the official
demanded us$1.000, the reduced it to $600
when told him he did not have that kind of
cash on hand and finally handed over $100 to
the official.
The OIJ explained that the man could not say
what offence he had committed as he was
never told by the officials. |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
