203. On December 5, 2006, 268 they filed a third appeal for review, on the following grounds:
i) that the evidence used to convict was illegitimate since it was generated in violation of the
Cooperation Agreement between […] Costa Rica and […] the United States of America to
suppress illegal trafficking; and ii) that there was a violation of the chain of custody. On April
19, 2007, through decision No. 2007-0389, the Court of Criminal Cassation of the Second
Judicial Circuit of San José declared the petition for review inadmissible, considering, in
general terms, that the alleged evidentiary violations were legally irrelevant, since the
defendants had agreed to an abbreviated procedure, which implies waiving the holding of an
oral and public trial and therefore, the right to discuss and examine the evidence offered.” 269
204. On May 22, 2007, 270 they filed a fourth motion for review, arguing that: i) they had
been judged by a biased judge since, according to them, the judge who heard the request for
pretrial detention against them was the same person who conducted the preliminary hearing
in which the abbreviated procedure was decided; and ii) improper individualization of the
sanction, since mitigating circumstances in their favor were not considered. On July 5, 2007,
through decision No. 2007-0744, the Court of Criminal Cassation of the Second Judicial Circuit
of San José dismissed both arguments: the first, because there was no prejudgment; 271 the
second, because it was a previously raised issue that was addressed in decision No. 20040924. 272
205. On March 9, 2009, for the fifth time, they filed a motion for review, under transitory
provision I of Law 8503 arguing that: i) “ the procedural stage of the preliminary investigation
and notification of the charges […] against the five defendants […]was not carried out, […]
and the extension of their preliminary statements requested [...] by the private defense
counsel [...] was not granted [...]”; and ii) “the Public Prosecutor’s Office omitted […] in the
investigation and notification of the charges […], to appoint a translator and interpreter for
the brothers Luis and Enrique Archbold Jay, since neither of the accused understand the
official language of Costa Rica […].” 273 On July 10, 2009, in decision No. 2009-0191, the Court
of Criminal Cassation of Cartago admitted the first motion for review, and ordered a hearing
to be held. However, it dismissed the second motion, considering that the accused did not
request a translator and that the need for one had not been established. 274
206. The hearing to substantiate the grounds for review was held on August 25, 2009. On
that same date, in decision No. 2009-0251, the Court of Criminal Cassation of Cartago
declared the review procedure inadmissible. It considered that the case files contained the
statements of the accused and, through their study, it was able to verify that these were
provided with all the requirements established in the regulations. In addition, it noted that
during the investigation, the defendants were accompanied by a public defense attorney who
fulfilled the purpose of protecting their fundamental rights. Subsequently, their attorneys
Cf. Complaint of December 5, 2006 (evidence file, folios 4596 to 4659).
Cf. Decision 2007-0389 of the Court of Criminal Cassation of the Second Judicial Circuit of San José, of
April 19, 2007, (evidence file, folio 1943).
270
Cf. Demand of May 22, 2007 (evidence file, folios 4758 to 4786).
271
Cf. Decision 2007-0744 of the Court of Criminal Cassation of the Second Judicial Circuit of San José, of
July 5, 2007, (evidence file, folio 1946).
272
Cf. Decision 2007-0744 of the Court of Criminal Cassation of the Second Judicial Circuit of San José, of
July 5, 2007, (evidence file, folio 1946).
273
Cf. Brief submitting the motion for review, signed by Luis Archbold Jay and Enrique Archbold Jay, on
March 9, 2009, (evidence file, folios 1952 to 1953 and 1977).
274
Cf. Decision 2009-0191 of the Court of Criminal Cassation of Cartago, of July 10, 2009, (evidence file,
folio 1992).
268
269
66