A second ex-minister heads to jail

A second former Education Minister has been arrested and is facing corruption charges based on alleged embezzlement from the state.

The arrest of Salvador Rodriguez was ordered by the public prosecutor.
He is being held at the headquarters of the Directorate of Judicial Investigation (DIJ), in Ancón.
In September, Rodriguez was questioned over the alleged misuse of approximately $90,000 disbursed during the the previous administration for the removal of fiberglass from the ceilings of 22 schools.
Rodríguez had replaced former Education Minister Belgis Castro, who is currently jailed at El Renacer prison an alleged scam involving $136,000, also for contracts to remove fiberglass.
The lawyer representing Rodriguez said that he will apply for a writ of habeas corpus no later than Monday, Dec 21.
Castro who had his detention in prison replaced by house arrest, was sent back to jail in less than 24 hours because he left his home to attend a PRD meeting.
A recent appeal to have the jail order rescinded was turned down because the judge ruled that he had been in contempt of court.