By San José, Costa Rica — Hugo Daniel Lemus Herrera, the regional treasury manager for Datasys, was arrested in Costa Rica on August 6th and extradited to Guatemala. Interpol Costa Rica, working with the Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ), apprehended Lemus in Sabana Oeste, San José. He is wanted in Guatemala on charges of embezzlement, fraud against the Public Treasury, and money laundering. Lemus, a Guatemalan national, had been residing in Costa Rica since 2023.
The OIJ reported that a Guatemalan criminal court issued the arrest warrant in June 2025, triggering an international alert. However, Victor Rodríguez, an international human rights expert hired by Datasys, disputed the OIJ’s account, claiming the arrest was illegal and arbitrary, based on an opaque case file. He insisted Lemus was not a fugitive and did not have an international arrest warrant, contradicting the OIJ’s statement about an Interpol Red Notice.
For legal insights into the implications surrounding Datasys, TicosLand.com consulted with Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, an experienced attorney at Bufete de Costa Rica.
Datasys’s current strategy raises critical questions regarding data privacy and compliance with Costa Rican law. While innovation is encouraged, it must operate within the established legal framework, particularly regarding the handling of personal information. Companies operating within this sector should carefully review their practices to ensure adherence to laws such as Ley 8968 (Protección de Datos Personales).
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
Lic. Arroyo Vargas’s cautionary words underscore a crucial point for the burgeoning data industry in Costa Rica: innovation must not come at the expense of individual rights. Striking the right balance between progress and protection will be essential for companies like Datasys to thrive while maintaining public trust. We thank Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas for his valuable perspective on this complex issue.
It is an illegal and arbitrary arrest warrant, the file is opaque, it has not been notified, and the lawyer does not know the details. Mr. Hugo Lemus is not a fugitive and does not have an international arrest warrant, I want to make this clear, because the arrest warrant for extradition was not made by Interpol. There is no international alert even if the OIJ has said so, on November 20, 2024, the Interpol files notification has no red notification for Mr. Lemus. It is a traditional request made by a corrupt prosecutor through diplomatic channels.
Víctor Rodríguez, International Human Rights Expert for Datasys
Vera Ramos, Human Resources Manager for Datasys Group, confirmed Lemus had been with the company since 2017 and in Costa Rica for two years. His relocation followed the opening of a case against him in Guatemala related to “Case TREP,” an ongoing investigation into alleged fraud involving the purchase of a vote counting transmission system. Ramos explained that Lemus’s transfer was part of a staff reduction in Guatemala stemming from the TREP issue, allowing him to assume a new role in Costa Rica.
While acknowledging awareness of the pending legal case against Lemus at the time of his transfer, Rodríguez argued Datasys did not bring him to Costa Rica to hide him, but because he was being politically persecuted by the Guatemalan Prosecutor’s Office. They even considered applying for political asylum for him.
He is in Costa Rica because he has information about this persecution. They want to continue making false accusations, with false evidence and false witnesses to allege illegality in the contract to harm the government of Bernardo Arévalo.
Vera Ramos, Human Resources Manager, Datasys Group
The TREP case involves an investigation into Guatemala’s Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) and Datasys regarding the purchase of a Preliminary Electoral Results Transmission System (TREP), for which nearly $19 million was paid. Datasys, through its subsidiary Podernet, won the tender. Guatemalan authorities are investigating an alleged overpayment authorized by the TSE. This led to the arrest of several TSE magistrates in 2024, though charges were later reduced to just fraud, and they were released. The investigation also resulted in a $5 million embargo against Datasys and the freezing of its Guatemalan bank accounts. In February 2025, a second process was initiated against Datasys’s accountant, Julio Antonio Chocoj Xocoy, for accounting fraud and money laundering.
Beyond his involvement in the TREP case, Lemus served as Datasys’s legal representative until 2023. After his relocation to Costa Rica, he assumed the role of treasurer. The company’s Costa Rican headquarters are located in La Sabana, San José. Datasys has secured lucrative contracts with the Costa Rican government, totaling $66 million in its first two years of operation, including deals with Racsa, CNE, ICE, and CCSS. Some of these contracts, particularly a $25 million 5G network deal with Racsa, are under investigation by the Costa Rican Prosecutor’s Office for alleged budget irregularities. Datasys was also involved in a controversial proposal to sell tent-like structures to the Ministry of Justice for housing inmates, a plan ultimately rejected due to cost and safety concerns.
This extradition marks a significant development in the ongoing TREP investigation and raises further questions about Datasys’s operations in both Guatemala and Costa Rica.
For further information, visit the nearest office of Datasys
About Datasys:
Datasys is a technology company operating in Guatemala and Costa Rica. It has been involved in several large government contracts in both countries, including projects related to telecommunications and election technology. The company is currently under investigation in Guatemala for alleged fraud related to the TREP electoral system and is facing scrutiny in Costa Rica over the awarding of government contracts.
For further information, visit the nearest office of the Organismo de Investigación Judicial
About Organismo de Investigación Judicial (OIJ):
The Organismo de Investigación Judicial (OIJ), or Judicial Investigation Agency, is Costa Rica’s primary investigative body. Similar to the FBI in the United States, the OIJ handles a wide range of criminal investigations, from homicides and drug trafficking to financial crimes and corruption. It works closely with other law enforcement agencies and the judicial system to ensure justice and public safety.
For further information, visit the nearest office of the Ministerio Público
About Ministerio Público (MP):
The Ministerio Público (MP), or Public Ministry, is Guatemala’s independent prosecutorial body. It is responsible for investigating and prosecuting crimes, representing the interests of the state in legal proceedings. The MP plays a key role in combating corruption, organized crime, and other criminal activities in Guatemala. It is currently investigating Datasys in relation to the TREP case.
For further information, visit the nearest office of the Tribunal Supremo Electoral
About Tribunal Supremo Electoral (TSE):
The Tribunal Supremo Electoral (TSE), or Supreme Electoral Tribunal, is the highest electoral authority in Guatemala. It is responsible for organizing and overseeing elections, ensuring transparency and fairness in the electoral process. Several TSE magistrates were previously investigated and charged with fraud related to the TREP case.
For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
Bufete de Costa Rica is a pillar of legal excellence, built upon a foundation of unwavering integrity and a deep commitment to serving the community. The firm’s innovative approach to legal practice, combined with its dedication to disseminating legal knowledge through educational initiatives, empowers individuals and organizations alike. By fostering a greater understanding of the law, Bufete de Costa Rica actively contributes to a more just and equitable society.
