Judge fired after releasing drug suspects

THE CHIRIQUI JUDGE who released four Costa Rican  fishermen arrested with 500 kilos of drugs hidden on their boat, has been fired.

The Supreme Court approved the firing of Judge Mixila Alicia Méndez Sánchez who ordered the release of four suspects, who were arrested over the weekend after authorities found 500 kilos of cocaine hidden in a secret compartment in a fish hold on their vessel.

The judge ordered the men not to leave the country, but the next day they had gone missing and are believed to have fled the country.

The decision of the judge was opposed by the prosecutor, who noted the suspects were likely to flee.

The court fired the judge for making the  decision, and for failing to notify  immigration officials about their status.