The Legislative Commission for Control of Public Income and Expenditure approved to send to Public Ministry the investigation report on the appointment of the Board of Directors of the National Bank (BN) by the Governing Council by alleged anomalies in the takeover of the collegiate body.
The report asks the Prosecutor’s Office to investigate former Vice President Stephan Brunner Neibig for the apparent crimes of abuse of authority, usurpation of authority and prevarication for his decision to dismiss the BN board.
Furthermore, the document recommends that research be carried out on Francisco Gamboanext vice president of the Republic; already Yara Jimenezelected representative of the Pueblo Soberano Party and imminent legislative president, for the apparent crime of influence peddling in the appointment of the BN board.
The legislative report was approved with the support of five of the six legislators present this Thursday, April 9, by pointing out possible interference and actions of the Executive Branch against the autonomy of the National Bank
The document had the back by Luz Mary Alpízar (Progreso Social Democrático), Dinorah Barquero (PLN), Kattia Cambronero (independent), Vanesa Castro (PUSC) and Katherine Moreira (PLN). He opposed Manuel Morales (Democratic Social Progress).
Additionally, the deputies of the Commission asked to initiate an investigation against the Government Council for the appointment no eligibility requirements of the members of the Board of Directors of the National Bank.
The report also requested that all actions of Max Alvarado Ramirezwho served as president of the National Bank, for the alleged crimes of perjury and false testimony when he appeared before the Commission of Control of Public Income and Expenditure, for stating that he was never questioned for his management as manager of Bancrédito.
In addition to ensuring that there was no intention to dismiss Rosaysella Ulloa as manager of the BN.
On May 29 of last year, Brunner removed directors Marvin Arias Aguilar (president), Ruth Alfaro Jara, José Bernal Alvarado Delgado, José Manuel Arias Porras, Montserrat Buján Boza, Rodolfo González Cuadra and Marcela Alpízar Chacón from their positions for an alleged irregularity in the appointment of the general manager, Rosaysella Ulloa Villalobos.
For its part, the Governing Council appointed Maximiliano Alvarado Ramírez (president), Javier Zúñiga Moya (vice president), María del Milagro Solórzano León (secretary), and the directors Rolando Saborío Jiménez, Noylin Cruz Suárez, María Brenes Quesada and Anabelle Chaves Soto to the Board.
However, on October 10, 2025, the Chamber IV restored to the dismissed directors when he annulled all the agreements made by Brunner to remove them.
Decision rationale
The legislative report argues that the administrative disciplinary process led by Brunner “violated the constitutional rights of the directors, by violating due process and meant a clear abuse and usurpation of authority, prevarication and a breakdown of the constitutional order established by our Political Constitution.”
It was even highlighted that the Constitutional Chamber annulled the administrative investigation because it was contrary to the law.
“Each and every one of the members appointed by the Governing Council (…) to occupy the positions of directors of the National Bank of Costa Rica did not meet the suitability requirements, since Messrs. Noylin Cruz Suárez, María del Milagro Solórzano León, Anabelle Chaves Soto and Rolando Saborío Jiménez did not meet the experience requirements and Messrs. Maximiliano Alvarado Ramírez, María Brenes Quesada and Anabelle Chaves Soto there were reasons for non-independence,” according to the legislative report.
In addition, Yara Jiménez, secretary of the Government Council, was criticized for recommending the directors elected by the Executive, despite the fact that the majority did not meet suitability requirements.
