Costa Rica News – Two police officers were arrested Thursday afternoon when they arrived at the OIJ offices in Santa Cruz to carry out proceedings related to another case. They were arrested for allegedly requesting a $600 bribe.
The officers stopped foreigners without passports in Carillo, Guanacaste and told them they would have to detain them because being without their passports is a crime. They said they would let them go for a $600 gift.
The Canadians did not have that much cash so one official went with them to an ATM where they took out the money and gave it to the officers. Later they filed a complaint with the OIJ.
The officers are charged with the crime of concussion, which is punishable by two to eight years of imprisonment. They are at the order of the Deputy Prosecutor of Santa Cruz.
Recently another officer was involved in criminal acts, with a gang dedicated to stealing homes in Limón. From 2014 to this February 7, 168 officers were dismissed for loss of trust.