Costa Rican ministry raided over Taiwan funds

0 Comments | AFP, July, 2008

SAN JOSE (AFP) — Costa Rican justice officials raided the offices of the interior minister, seizing documents related to million-dollar donations from Taiwan that were allegedly diverted.

Earlier this week opposition deputy Alberto Salom accused Minister Fernando Zumbado of diverting part of 2.5 million dollars donated by Taiwan in 2006 for building homes for the poor in western San Jose.

The documents were seized Friday from Zumbado's offices one day after he testified to a parliamentary commission on the case.

Zumbado, who was temporarily suspended from his position while the case is being investigated, told the commission that decisions on handling the funds were taken by the Central American Bank for Economic Integration, which oversees the use of the money.

© 2008 AFP