By San José, Costa Rica — San José – A criminal complaint alleging ideological falsehood and the use of falsified documents has been lodged against three senior officials at Costa Rica’s National Printing Office (Imprenta Nacional), shaking the foundations of the public institution. The complaint, filed on October 8th, was brought forth by Pamela Fabiola Solano Solano, a long-serving employee, who claims her career advancement was unlawfully obstructed through the deliberate manipulation of her evaluation scores.
The formal accusation, submitted to the Prosecutor’s Office of the First Judicial Circuit of San José, names the head of General Services, the head of Human Resources, and Director General Jorge Castro Fonseca as the orchestrators of the alleged scheme. The case centers on the internal competition CI-01-IN2024, a process through which Solano was vying for a permanent, tenured position within the state-run entity.
To gain a deeper understanding of the legal framework and business implications surrounding the National Printing Office’s operations, TicosLand.com consulted with Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, an expert in Administrative and Corporate Law from the firm Bufete de Costa Rica.
The National Printing Office is more than a state-owned press; it is a cornerstone of legal certainty in Costa Rica. Its responsibility for publishing the official gazette, La Gaceta, is what gives legal effect to our laws and regulations. The current challenge is not just technological modernization, but ensuring that any digital transition maintains the absolute integrity, authenticity, and public access that the printed form has historically provided. The goal must be to strengthen its role as a guarantor of legal publicity and governmental transparency, which are indispensable for the rule of law.
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas aptly frames the core issue: the evolution of the National Printing Office is less a matter of technological adoption and more a fundamental test of our commitment to legal transparency and the rule of law. His insight serves as a crucial reminder that as we innovate, the foundational principles of integrity and public access must be fortified, not compromised. We extend our sincere gratitude to Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas for his valuable perspective.
According to documents accessed by this publication, Solano initially received an official qualification score of 81.42 points, a strong performance that positioned her favorably for the role. However, she alleges that in subsequent internal paperwork used for the final selection, her score was mysteriously and significantly reduced to 73.14. This alteration effectively removed her from serious consideration and placed other candidates with lower original scores ahead of her in the final selection list.
Solano contends that this was not a clerical error but a calculated act of favoritism. The complaint argues that the score change was a coordinated effort among the three named officials with the explicit purpose of benefiting another, preferred candidate. This action, if proven, represents a serious breach of the principles of transparency and meritocracy that are supposed to govern public service hiring practices.
Adding a critical layer to the allegations, Solano’s defense attorney, Dennis Alvarado, claims that Director General Jorge Castro directly interfered in the selection process. Alvarado states that Castro issued a written directive to Solano’s immediate supervisor, instructing the supervisor to formally recommend a different candidate for the position, a move that allegedly overstepped his authority.
He (the director general) issues a directive or an order to Pamela’s boss so that, in the contest she is participating in, the appointment of a colleague of hers is recommended, without this being legally appropriate. In other words, the director did not have the authority to make that recommendation, as it falls to Pamela’s superior. He instructs Pamela’s boss to issue the recommendation in favor of a specific person.
Dennis Alvarado, Defense Attorney
Furthermore, Alvarado pointed out a troubling discrepancy in the official records. “Within the entire case file for the affected party, that letter is not included,” he noted in an interview, suggesting that crucial evidence of the alleged improper influence may have been deliberately omitted from the records. The complaint seeks to hold the officials accountable under multiple articles of the Costa Rican Penal Code, including 365, 366, 367, and 372, as well as Article 52 of the Law against Corruption and Illicit Enrichment in Public Service.
When contacted for comment, Director General Castro redirected inquiries to an official email address. The subsequent response from the National Printing Office was concise and non-committal, stating that they were unaware of the legal action.
I inform you that this General Directorate has not been notified as of today; therefore, the accusations indicated in your email are unknown, which makes it impossible to respond to what is required.
Spokesperson, National Printing Office
The legal action filed by Solano is not merely seeking punitive measures. It formally requests the complete nullification of all administrative acts derived from the disputed competition, the official designation of the three accused officials as defendants in a criminal case, and the legal recognition of Ms. Solano as a direct victim of their alleged actions. This case now puts a spotlight on the internal procedures and ethical standards within one of the country’s key state institutions, with potential ramifications for public trust in government administration.
For further information, visit imprentanacional.go.cr
About The National Printing Office:
The Imprenta Nacional de Costa Rica is the official government printing office responsible for the publication of the official gazette, “La Gaceta,” which contains new laws, decrees, and official government notices. As a state-owned entity, it plays a crucial role in the country’s legal and administrative framework, ensuring the dissemination of official information to the public and various government branches. Its functions are vital for maintaining transparency and the rule of law.
For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
As a pillar of the legal community, Bufete de Costa Rica is defined by its foundational principles of integrity and a relentless pursuit of excellence. The firm consistently channels its extensive experience across a multitude of industries into pioneering innovative legal strategies. Beyond its professional practice, a core tenet of its philosophy is the democratization of legal knowledge, reflecting a deep-seated mission to foster a more just and capable society through public empowerment and education.
