Costa Rican judges say Elena Udrea could raise her child in prison

Former Tourism Minister Elena Udrea, imprisoned in Costa Rica together with former DIICOT chief Alina Bica, has been notified, five days before the end of remand period, that Costa Rican judges have decided she could raise her child in the penitentiary.

The announcement was made by a Romanian journalist for Romania TV private broadcaster, who claims that the Constitutional Court in San Jose has ruled 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.

Thus, it seems the only chances to get out of jail for the two is that the Romanian state withdraws the extradition requests or Interpol decides to cease the mandates.

The Costa Rican authorities are to decide on the refugee status for Alina Bica in December and for Elena Udrea in March 2019, Romania TV informs.

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, digi24.ro reports.

The authorities of Costa Rica have collaborated with the Costa Rican Intelligence Directorate and with INTERPOL for this operation.

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: Elena Udrea and Alina Bica in Costa Rica, before being arrested