by Rod Hughes

Jorge Rojas, director of the Judicial Investigation bureau OIJ, who announced his resignation last month because he said his budget did not allow OIJ to do its job, is staying on. The emergency increase in his departmental of seven billion colones for this year is an immediate result of the top-level meeting of law enforcement and court officials yesterday.

The move underscores just how seriously the government is taking crime. And well they might, since no fewer than seven cabinet members have been victims over the years, including the brother of President Oscar Arias, Rodrigo, who is also Minister of the Presidency and the most powerful cabinet member.

The injection of funds will allow OIJ to hire 500 additional officials and buy 250 vehicles to allow investigators to probe crime scenes, haul evidence and perform other duties. The money represents a healthy 26% hike in the budget previously earmarked for the country’s equivalent of Scotland Yard or the FBI.

Other decisions made at yesterday’s meeting include the opening of seven misdemeanor courts to function 24 hours per day in the central valley to process those captured for such minor crimes as stealing cell phones. The move is an attempt to free up court agendas for more serious felonies. The meeting also decided to push even harder on crime bills currently stuck in congress.

Five of the cabinet members have been victims of violent crimes over the last four months: Foreign Minister Bruno Stagno, Finance Minister Guillermo Zuniga, Minister of Public Works Karla Gonzalez, Deputy Minister of Health Lidieth Carballo and Deputy Education Minister Alejandrina Mata. It was for this reason that the country’s chief prosecutor Francisco Dall’Anese especially targeted organized crime—all were victims of violent gangs.

Ironically, crime figures themselves are down slightly for last year, especially in the tourism area, thanks to the creation of a special tourism pollce force. The President Oscar Arias made it clear yesterday that he was making crime a top priority.