American Expatriate Costa Rica

Legislators celebrate rejection of Juan Carlos Bolaños appeals

Ronny Monge, from the National Liberation Party (PLN) and Patricia Mora, from Frente Amplio, welcomed the decision of the Constitutional Chamber to reject the habeas corpus and the amparo appeal filed by Chinese cement importer Juan Carlos Bolaños.

Bolaños initiated legal action against the special commission of the Legislative Assembly, which investigates the loan granted by the Bank of Costa Rica (BCR) for his cement business.

The questioned businessman argued that lawmakers violated his rights when they rejected the alleged medical incapacity for hemorrhagic gastritis, which he presented on August 25th to avoid being held accountable by the commission.

According to the magistrates’ reasoning, medical incapacities do not necessarily constitute an impossibility to go to hearings, unless they seriously compromise the health of the person, involve a physical impediment to their mobility, or are of a psychiatric nature that affects the capacity of understanding.

Monge said that the Chamber’s ruling supports the decision he made as Chairman of the commission, in the sense that the medical opinion was not a cause for failing to show up.

Mora said that the resolution is a sign that however badly mistreated, the rule of law continues to work in the country.

On August 25th, Bolaños “voluntarily” showed up after Monge warned him that he would bring him with the Public Force if necessary.

crhoy.com