Environmentalist Paul Watson, founder of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, through his lawyer Abraham Stern, filed a criminal complaint before the Public Ministry against 10 Costa Rican judges, accusing them or “prevaricato”, crime that consists on dictating resolutions contrary to the law.

The case against Watson dates back to 2002 when members of the fishing vessel Varadero I from Puntarenas, claimed to have been “attacked” by Mr. Watson and his Sea Shepherd crew accusing them of fluttering (cutting the fins of the sharks).; however, Watson, of Canadian nationality, often explained that the vessels collided when the Varadero tried to escape, after pyrotechnic flares and water cannons were used against the fishermen.

Radio Show Nuestra Voz conducted by journalist Amelia Rueda, held an interview with Watson’s lawyer, who explained: “Watson conciliated with the fishermen for an undisclosed amount on September 2016 and requested that the extra-procedural agreement be approved by a Criminal Court, but this was rejected because the “danger of shipwreck” is a crime of public action“.

Precisely that is one of the decisions that Watson’s lawyer questions and for what he presented the formal complaint of prevaricato. He also points out that the events took place in Guatemalan waters, so the Costa Rican courts have no jurisdiction.

The process has carried out for 16 years, affecting Mr. Watson, and the fishermen who to this point have not received the conciliation amounts.