Traffic Chief and Two Others At The MOPT Suspended
February 3rd, 2012 | by admin |César Quirós, the director de Tránsito, Gerardo Aymerich, head of administration at the Ministerio de Obras Publicas y Transportes (MOPT) and Andrés Bermúdez, head of the Dirección General de Tránsito, were all suspended on Thursday following Monday’s Tránsito warehouse theft of 215 firearms.
The suspension is temporary according to the MOPT minister, Francisco Jimenez, an action that the minister says is to promote transparency while the investigation continues.
Jimenez denied any responsibility in the robbery of weapons that were purchased last October 28 and were being stored while in the process of registering them and to be issued to traffic police officials.
Following the robbery, both Jimenez and Costa Rica’s presidenta, Laura Chinchilla, said that there is evidence of negligence in the care of the firearms. Investigators are also looking into the possibility of the robbery being an inside job.
The minister on Thursday also announced stricter measures in all 240 MOPT offices and would be taking appropriate decision, however hard and painful they may be.
The minister also announced the appointment of Diego Herrera as interim to head the country’s traffic police force.
On wednesday the Unión Nacional de Técnicos Profesionales del Tránsito (Unateprot) had called on the presidenta to remove Quiros and and minister Jimenez.
