Two policemen have been detained for bribery. While bribery is a common occurrence in Costa Rica, it is taken more seriously now because the bribe was offered to get out of the fine for a sanitary restriction violation.
The officers asked for ₡20,000 each in exchange for releasing a man who was driving with a license plate number that was restricted. The driver should have been fined
₡110,000.
The driver appeared before the Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ) to report what happened. He explained that the officers said in exchange for the money they would not call the Traffic Police and thus avoid the violation and fine for circulating when prohibited.
OIJ agents in Pococí searched the bedrooms of the police officers to seize evidence for the investigation. Some companions of the involved took it upon themselves to guard the suspects and prevent them from hiding evidence.
