Congressman Edgardo Araya of the Frente Amplio (FA) reported that he filed a formal complaint with the Public Prosecutor’s Office and the Attorney General’s Office against ruling-party legislator Cindy Murillo for the crime of legislating for her own benefit.
The complaint stemmed from Cindy Murillo’s vote in favor of and her support for Bill No. 22.981 regarding the creation of the Espejo de Agua Arenal Reservoir Natural Landscape Protected Wildlife Area.
La Voz revealed that this legislative bill, which will regulate businesses around Lake Arenal and open up the system for granting concessions on public land, directly benefits the legislator’s family business, the Tinajas Arenal Lakefront Lodge hotel and restaurant.
“Faced with such a serious violation of the law against corruption and illicit enrichment, we have no choice but to file this complaint. In fact, it is our obligation to file this complaint,” Araya said in a statement.
The bill was approved unanimously, but according to Assembly regulations, representative Murillo was required to recuse herself and abstain from participating in the process.
You declare a conflict of interest, recuse yourself, abstain—and that’s it; you’ve fulfilled your duty of integrity. But in this case, the representative not only defended the bill but continues to defend it, saying that if she had to do it again, she would do it again—which is essentially a confession of a crime,” the legislator added.
La Voz has repeatedly attempted to ask questions and obtain a statement from Representative Cindy Murillo, but as of the time of this publication, she has not agreed to speak with this media outlet.
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