Man arrested in Costa Rica for death threats against President Laura Fernández

Costa Rican authorities have arrested a 27-year-old man, identified by the surname Villalobos, on suspicion of posting death threats against President Laura Fernández on social media. The alleged threats were reportedly made on May 8, the same day Fernández was inaugurated as president.

The Organismo de Investigación Judicial (OIJ) reported that the arrest occurred during a raid on a home in Desamparados, Alajuela province. Electronic devices were seized from the residence, and the suspect has been handed over to the prosecutor's office for further investigation. The crime of aggravated threats carries a potential prison sentence of six months to two years under Costa Rican law.

This arrest marks the fourth instance this year of an individual being detained for allegedly threatening President Fernández. Previously, on March 11, two people were arrested for making public threats against the then-president Rodrigo Chaves and the then-president-elect Fernández. One of these individuals, a 58-year-old man surnamed Trejos, allegedly made threats in public, while a woman surnamed Gamboa reportedly used social media to issue threats against both Chaves and Fernández.

Another arrest occurred on February 4, when the OIJ detained a woman suspected of making threats against the president-elect via social media. The ongoing arrests highlight concerns over security and the use of online platforms to issue threats against public officials in Costa Rica.