News, Guanacaste Votes

Two of Guanacaste’s legislative candidates face trials: for sexual abuse of a minor and for assault

Esta publicación también está disponible en: Español
Translator: Arianna Hernández

Two of Guanacaste’s legislative candidates will face trials after being accused by the Prosecutor’s Office of committing crimes. The candidates in question are Dagoberto Rojas, second place candidate for A Just Costa Rica (PCRJ for the Spanish acronym) and Ana Virginia “Anne” Argüello, first place candidate for the Accessibility Without Exclusion Party (PASE for the Spanish acronym).

Dagoberto Rojas faces an accusation of sexual abuse of minors, a crime punishable by four to 10 years in prison. The Judiciary’s press department indicated that a date has not yet been set for the trial.

Rojas said through a WhatsApp message to The Voice that he denies the accusations.

Ana Virginia “Anne” Argüello faces a complaint for assault with a weapon, a crime that is punishable by a sentence of six months to one year in prison. The trial against begin on May 4, 2022.

According to the Prosecutor’s Office of Liberia, both Argüello and the other person, named Jiménez, filed separate complaints against each other.

After the investigation, the Prosecutor’s Office determined that they should only press charges against Argüello and request a dismissal in favor of the other person.”

However, the press department of the judiciary told The Voice that both of them will stand trial in a double role: as offended and accused. 

Argüello told The Voice that it was a “family discussion” at a public event in Liberia.

A person reached out to me and my daughter and attacked us (with a horse crop)”.

A Candidate Under Investigation

The Prosecutor’s Office also indicated that it is investigating Carlos Cantillo, the mayor of Carrillo and third place legislative candidate for National Liberation (PLN) for four alleged crimes:

  1. Illegal logging
  2. Irregular payment of administrative contract
  3. Embezzlement of use (when an official utilizes jobs or services paid for by the Public Administration or property owned by it for his own benefit or that of third parties)
  4. Illegal recognition of labor benefits, illicit enrichment and legislation or administration for personal gain.

The Voice contacted the mayor and Liberation candidate by telephone and by WhatsApp message. However, he did not reply as of the deadline for this publication.

Cantillo has shaken off the accusations in other media, calling them “poorly founded” investigations.

“When political processes draw close, poorly-founded complaints always appear, with the desire to damage my image,” he said.

Neither the accused candidates nor Cantillo have withdrawn from their party’s electoral campaigns.

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