Costa Rica: Reports of corruption investigations in the Costa Rican Social Security System (Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social, CCSS) (1997 to December 2002)
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 24 December 2002 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | CRI40783.E |
| Reference | 2 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Costa Rica: Reports of corruption investigations in the Costa Rican Social Security System (Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social, CCSS) (1997 to December 2002), 24 December 2002, CRI40783.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3f7d4d8438.html [accessed 31 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Information on corruption investigations in the Costa Rican Social Security System (Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social, CCSS) is very limited among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
On 14 January 2000, La Nación reported that the Public Ministry was to investigate a questionable investment of more than 1, 400 million colones [roughly CDN $6.5 million (Oanda 24 Dec. 2002)] that the CCSS made with the Banco Popular trust. According to the Costa Rican Attorney General, Carlos Arias, the investigation was progressing well and he was awaiting the results of an accounting study that was requested by the section of the Judicial Investigations Police in charge of economic and financial crimes (Sección de Delitos Económicos y Financieros del Organismo de Investigación Judicial, OIJ) (La Nación 14 Jan. 2000). As both the CCSS and the trust company denounced the investigation, they also launched their own internal inquiries (ibid.). The Public Ministry's investigation dealt with an investment the CCSS allegedly made with the Banco Popular trust, which expired on 21 April 1999, without the CCSS being able to recuperate that amount, as well as the accumulated interest (ibid.). The investigation was to verify the potential participation of employees of both institutions and ascertain whether specific persons or companies were involved in brokering the investment (ibid.).
La Nación reported on 8 February 2001 that Sandra Piszk, the Costa Rican Ombudsman (Defensora de los Habitantes), recommended that the Legislative Assembly investigate potential problems of corruption within the CCSS. Rodolfo Piza Rocafort, the Executive President of the CCSS, qualified Piszk's recommendation as [translation] "illegal, unconstitutional, false and offensive" (La Nación 8 Feb. 2001). Piza stated that the CCSS was considering launching a lawsuit against Piszk for defamation and would only desist from it if she presented concrete proof of the alleged irregularities before the legislative commission investigating the matter (ibid.). On 9 February 2001, La Nación reported that Piszk would not retract her comments made on the CCSS before the Legislative Assembly. She reiterated that incidents of corruption had taken place at the CCSS in the last few years without accusing any particular persons (La Nación 9 Feb. 2001). She added that the specific problems were related to [translation] "inefficient bureaucracy, processing difficulties, lengthy delays and faulty planning" (ibid.). In light of these problems, Piszk recommended that there be an investigation conducted on those at the decision-making level within the CCSS (ibid.). Specifically, Piszk alluded that lengthy processing times were taking place for particular purchasing procedures of private services, including medicines and equipment (ibid.).
No additional information on either the corruption investigation related to Banco Popular trust or to the statements made by Piszk could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
La Nación [San José]. 9 February 2001. Giannina Segnini. "Defensora de los Habitantes: 'No me retractaré'." _____. 8 February 2001. Pablo Guerén C. and Ángela Ávalos R. "Caja demandaría a Sandra Piszk." _____. 14 January 2000. Carlos A. Villalobos. "Fiscalía investiga fideicomiso." Oanda. 24 December 2002. "FX Converter-164 Currency Converter." Additional Sources Consulted
IRB Databases
Latinamerica Press [Lima]. 1997-2002
LEXIS/NEXIS
World News Connection (WNC)
Internet sites including:
A.M. Costa Rica [San José]. Search engine
Amnesty International
Comisión para la Defensa de los Derechos Humanos en Centroamérica (CODEHUCA)
Human Rights Watch
Informes de la Defensoría de los Habitantes. 1998-2001
La Nación [San José]
Transparency International
Search engines:
Alltheweb.com
Google
