Elena Udrea and Alina Bica – one step closer to extradition from Costa Rica

Former Tourism Minister Elena Udrea and former DIICOT chief Alina Bica, imprisoned in Costa Rica, are one step closer to extradition after the court’s decision on November 28 to prolong the remand until the completion of the extradition procedure, which could commence very soon, sources say.

The ruling is not limited to 60 days, most likely meaning that the two former officials could remain in jail until the extradition procedure is completed, antena3.ro reports.

Alina Bica should have received the reply to the request for the refugee status, as the application was filed one year ago.

Elena Udrea and Alina Bica were taken into custody by Interpol on October 3 and are ever since behind bars in San Jose jail.

According to Romania TV private broadcaster, the Constitutional Court in San Jose has ruled last week that Elena Udrea and Alina Bica are imprisoned in conditions that meet the standards. Journalist Victor Ciutacu quoted sources saying that the magistrates have also decided that Elena Udrea could raise her recently born girl behind bars.

Former Tourism Minister Elena Udrea and former DIICOT chief, Alina Bica, have been imprisoned in October in the El Buen Pastor penitentiary, named since 2017 Vilma Curling Rivera.

Diarioextra.com reported at the time that the two women spent lots of money in Costa Rica, probably money received from a compatriot. The article was titled: ‘The Romanians lived in luxury, had no occupation and no banking data. Corruption suspects received money every day’.

Interpol Costa Rica chief, Gustavo Chinchilla said in early October that the arrests of former DIICOT chief, Alina Bica and of former Tourism Minister, Elena Udrea, were conducted upon the decision made by a judge, and the time of remanding them was strategically chosen.

Elena Udrea and Alina Bica were detained by Interpol in Costa Rica. The two, under APB warrant to serve sentences handed down by Romanian justice, were approached in the street.

Former Tourism Minister, Elena Udrea, has a final sentence of six years imprisonment, and former DIICOT chief, Alina Bica, has to serve four years in prison.

Elena Udrea fled Romania only four months before being sentenced in the ‘Bute Gala’ file, she has flown to Costa Rica, a country which does not have an extradition treaty with Romania.

Elena Udrea has given birth, in Costa Rica, on September 20, before the term. Elena Udrea’s first child is named Eva Maria.

file photo: the moment of arrest by Interpol