Media owner files complaint alleging interference by Costa Rica's president in custody dispute
A banker and media owner says he filed a legal complaint against Costa Rican President Rodrigo Chaves, alleging that his administration interfered in his child custody dispute
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A banker and media owner said Tuesday he had filed a legal complaint against Costa Rican President Rodrigo Chaves, alleging that his administration interfered in his child custody dispute.
The animosity between Chaves and the complainant Leonel Baruch, who owns online news site CR Hoy, is well known.
Baruch's complaint, which alleges influence trafficking by the president and top officials, is one that any citizen can file, and does not necessarily lead to any charges.
The dispute came to light when the former head of Costa Rica’s child welfare agency, Gloriana López Fuscaldo, claimed she had received a phone call from Chaves’ chief of staff, telling her the president wanted her to “rule well” on the custody case.
López Fuscaldo later went to neighboring Panama, claiming she feared for her safety.
Chaves did not immediately respond to Baruch's complaint, but said López Fuscaldo could return at any time.
“I just want to tell Gloriana that she can return with the assurance that nobody is going to do anything to her, she should stop making things up," Chaves said.
Chaves has previously called reporters from CR Hoy “political assassins,” and his administration briefly tried to bring a tax evasion case against one of Baruch's companies.
Chaves began a four-year term as Costa Rica’s president in May 2022. There have been about 18 such legal complaints filed against his administration, all of them reportedly still open.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.