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Meta
Autor: Writer
~ 19/10/06
Investigators said they arrested 15 persons who used their government positions to award land to themselves, close relatives or accomplices.
The arrests came during dawn raids in Orotina, Paquera, Cóbano and Parrita.
The 14 men and one woman were employees of the Instituto de Desarrollo Agrario between 1993 and 1999 when the lands were distributed. The properties were supposed to go to the poor or those who would work the land.
Agents said that an inspection showed that a high percentage of the land was not being used. Instead it was being held for resale. The law prohibits transfer of such land for 15 years, but in some cases, fake papers were used to allow sales, agents said.
The law also requires that the appplicants meet certain requirements, and agents said that those who were arrested altered documents to show that those who recieved the land were eligible when they were not. The investigation was delayed because much of the documentation for the agricultural development agency during that period had been destroyed. Agents say this was done on purpose.
The case is being handled by the Fiscalía Adjunta de Delitos Económicos, Corrupción and Tributarios of the Ministerio Público in addition to the Sección de Fraudes of the Judicial Investigating Oganization.
Investigators said that in-laws, brothers and other relatives of the public employees got the gifts of property. At least 65 separate cases are being investigated. The land area is some 689,108 square meters, agents said. That’s about 170 acres.
The law prohibits public employees from giving land to themselves. In most cases the law is designed to provide a homesite or a small farm to poor persons in rural areas. The investigation began in 2005 after news stories about the case appeared.
Judges are being asked to order the detained individuals not to leave the country. In some cases, prosecutors are seeking preventative detention.
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