Q COSTA RICA — Despite the request on Sunday from the Ministry of Justice that the hearing on precautionary measures against Alejandro Arias Monge, alias “Diablo,” and Jonathan Pérez, alias “Tan,” be held virtually due to the danger they pose, rather than the typical transfer to the courts. The operation began around 7:00 a.m. this Monday, with the typical transfer of highly dangerous individuals.
Under a strict aerial and ground security escort, Monge rode in “La Bestia” (Beast), while Tan rode in the typical paddy wagon; they were transferred some 22 kilometers from La Reforma to the Tribunales de San José (Primer Circuito Judicial de San José) located in downtown San José, some 22 kilometers from the prison. At the hearing, scheduled for 1:30 p.m., the criminal leaders are expected to be charged with two counts of homicide and one count of attempted homicide and could face measures such as pretrial detention (remand) while authorities gather all the evidence for a final trial. The request made by the Minister of Justice, Gabriel Aguilar, to the acting director of the Organismo de Investigación Judicial (OIJ), Michael Soto, was based on institutional security criteria aimed at minimizing the risks involved in the transfer and custody of individuals “considered highly dangerous,” such as Arias Monge.
In a separate incident, the daughter of Alejandro Arias Monge, only identified as Arias Fonseca, armed and in an armored vehicle, was located on Sunday in the vicinity of the La Reforma prison. After the police intervention, she was released, although authorities will keep the investigation open and reinforce security controls. “Diablo” and “Tan” remain under maximum security.
If they are remanded, they will be transferred back to La Reforma prison complex, in San Rafael de Alajuela, under constant surveillance by tactical officers. Alejandro Arias Monge was the most wanted drug trafficker in the country for the last ten years, while Jonathan Pérez Méndez (Tan) had been on the run for about 18 months and, apparently, was Arias’ right-hand man.
Summary from source