Costa Rica prosecutor accuses president, minister in influence scheme involving development bank

SAN JOSE (Reuters) – The attorney general’s office of Costa Rica on Monday filed charges against President Rodrigo Chaves and Culture Minister Jorge Rodriguez in an alleged influence scheme involving a top regional development bank.

The charges could carry a sentence of two to eight years “for public officials who, abusing their functions, force or induce someone to improperly give or promise, for themselves or a third party, a good or financial benefit,” prosecutors said in a statement.

(Reporting by Alvaro Murillo and Kylie Madry; Editing by Chris Reese)