Monthly Archives: January 2012

A San Jose court has sentenced a Costa Rican attorney and notary to 186 years in prison for preparing 31 false marriages. One women only found out she was married after giving birth and learning that paternity had been automatically granted to her husband, a Cuban national. A Sarapiquí man believes he was selected for a sham marriage after a suitcase containing identity documents was stolen. Immigration appears to be the motive in most of the cases.

An Osa judge who ordered the pre-trial release in 2007 of five suspects in a 1,500 kilo cocaine seizure has been absolved of criminal charges following a retrial. The new case was ordered by the Sala III criminal court following a conviction. According to statements from the acquitted he will now seek back pay and a government pension he was denied following dismissal several months before retirement.

A public opinion poll shows that 85 percent of the population believes that Costa Rican President Laura Chinchilla lacks control over the government. The same poll conducted in June of 2011 reported that 78 percent lacked confidence. The drop comes after a year marked by political conflict, failure of critical infrastructure and dark economic expectations.

The year 2011 was a record year for divorce in Costa Rica with 12,592 divorces for 25,021 new marriages marriages. Another trends is the use of civil practice attorneys to officiate marriage instead of the catholic church. Detailed statistics are presented in the full article in La Nacion.

Average real wages grew by 1.7 percent annually from 2000 to 2010, while the real minimum wage increased by only 1 percent. A new method for calculating the minimum wage is hoped to reduce inequality in the private sector.

Colombian authorities have arrested 17 Costa Rican fishermen, including a child under age 14 in the protected waters near the Malpelo islands. Four of the men have been convicted of illegal fishing and are on their way to serve 4 year terms at the San Buenaventura prison. Authorities are continuing their investigation of the other men detained.