Costa Rica's Attorney General, Carlo D铆az S谩nchez, accused President Rodrigo Chaves Robles of extortion related to a $405,800 contract for communication services at the Presidential House, funded by the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (BCIE).
The accusation also includes Culture Minister Jorge Rodr铆guez Vives, who was Chaves' chief of staff at the time of the contract.
Audiovisual producer Christian Bulgarelli Rojas, whose company won the BCIE contract, is a crown witness. He received immunity in exchange for information. The Attorney General's argument is that the contract favored Bulgarelli's company and that funds were used for campaign favors.
Evidence includes recordings of meetings at the Presidential House provided by former Communications Minister Patricia Navarro and published by La Naci贸n. These recordings show conversations between Chaves, ministers, and advisors about the contract, with Chaves himself referencing the funds.
The investigation started after La Naci贸n reported on Bulgarelli's involvement in the contract's terms of reference and his subsequent admission to this fact. La Naci贸n's previous reports also revealed attempts to conceal the contract details from public scrutiny.
The BCIE's own internal investigation found that Bulgarelli may have engaged in fraudulent and collusive practices. Bulgarelli criticized the bank for not investigating Chaves and other officials.
The Presidency and BCIE tried to hide the contract's details, even going to the Constitutional Court. President Chaves later released some documents, but withheld key information.
Authorities seized recordings from Navarro's home after she gave testimony.