The representative of the New Republic Party Yonder Salas Durán faces an investigation for alleged illegal fishing after apparently being surprised in that activity this Sunday, April 12.
The information was confirmed by the Public Ministry after a consultation of The Nationwhile, when contacted by this means, the legislator denied the incident.
The events under investigation occurred in the Tortuguero National Park in Limón, where Salas was apparently located along with two other people by patrol officers from the Cuatro Esquinas post.
The Deputy Prosecutor’s Office of Pococí reported that yesterday it received a report from the National System of Protected Areas (Sinac), about “three people detained as suspected of committing the crime of illegal fishing within the Tortuguero National Park, in the province of Limón.” The Public Ministry specified that the accused are “two adults with the last names Azofeifa and Salas, criminal case 26-000503-0485-PE was opened against them.”
Case 26-078-1037-PJ was opened for a minor, in the Deputy Juvenile Criminal Prosecutor’s Office, Pococí headquarters. “However, according to the minutes issued by the Pococí Prosecutor’s Office, at 10:40 pm yesterday, Sunday, Salas’ technical defense reported that his client currently holds the position of deputy, which the prosecutor’s office was unaware of until that moment.”
Due to Salas’ status as a legislator, which grants him immunity, “his release was ordered and, this morning, a testimony of pieces (parallel file) was sent to the Attorney General’s Office of the Republic, a body that will continue the investigation against him, under file 26-000508-0485-PE,” added the prosecuting entity.
In the case against Salas and another adult, the Pococí Prosecutor’s Office reported that it is waiting for the extension of a Sinac report, to summon the accused and take the investigative statement.
Misunderstanding
Salas explained that “it was all a misunderstanding, we were on a boat through the canals, very close to the town of Tortuguero, not on the Sierpe River, when the boat started to have mechanical problems.” The legislator added that while they were attending to the damage, a Sinac boat arrived.
The deputy pointed out that the Sinac officials told them “that we had to accompany them, since there was a difference with another person who was on the boat. Afterwards everything was cleared up and it didn’t happen any further.” The representative of the Caribbean province explained that he was presented to the Pococí prosecutor’s office, “we left without any problem from the prosecutor’s office, so much so that they didn’t even take my data.”
At this time, none of the people are in custody.
