Rector de la UCR nombró en puesto de confianza a funcionario que sancionó por descongelar plaza y quedar elegido | La Nación

Key Issue: Conflicting Appointment

The rector of the University of Costa Rica (UCR), Carlos Araya Leandro, appointed a former official, Castro Mattei, as director of the Computing Center. This is controversial because Araya had previously sanctioned Castro five years earlier for actions related to a job competition.

The Sanction

In 2020, Araya, then acting rector, sanctioned Castro for an alleged breach of duty of abstention and weakening of the internal control system during a job application process. The sanction was a written warning.

The OCU's Alert

In 2019, Castro requested the unfreezing of a position, a request approved by Araya. The OCU expressed concerns about potential conflicts of interest due to Castro's involvement in the selection process for the same position. Despite these concerns, Castro was appointed.

Fiscal Investigation

Castro's current appointment is under investigation by the Fiscalía Adjunta de Probidad, Transparencia y Anticorrupción (case 25-000035-1218-PE). Castro's lawyer claims the allegations are false and politically motivated.

Additional Information

• The article details the process leading up to Castro's original appointment and subsequent sanction.
• It includes official documents and statements from those involved.
• Araya's office did not respond to requests for comment.