Controversy never seems to end for the northern Costa Rican town of Crucitas.

After a Canadian gold mining company, Infinito Gold, was denied access to the land to mine, the case continues to die.

The company appealed the Costa Rican government’s decision, but finally gave up on the case in 2015 and packed up their bags.

However the after effects continue.

Not only have over 300 Nicaraguans been arrested over the past week for allegedly trespassing on the property to pan for gold, but the case itself was re-opened by the Costa Rican public prosecutor’s office to investigate the role of former president and Nobel Peace Prize winner, Oscar Arias, in authorizing Infinito Gold’s permit in the first place.

Arias is being probed as to whether he failed to uphold his executive responsibilities by signing the 2008 decree that would allow for gold mining saying the activity was in the “public’s interest.”

Arias was president from 1986 to 1990 and again between 2006 and 2010, after a modification of national laws allowed him to run again.

On his Facebook page, he said he would give a declaration on the issue after a trip to the United States where he plans to speak at Princeton University.

“Out of respect to the legal authorities, I will attend the summons in a timely manner and I will collaborate with the investigation, certain that in the end truth will prevail and my complete innocence will be confirmed,” said Arias on his FB page.

Another high level official was prosecuted in the case – Roberto Dobles, environment minister at the time under Arias – was convicted and sentenced in the case. He avoided jail time after the verdict was overturned by an appeals court. His case is being re-tried and started in September.

Meanwhile, police continue to scour the forested Crucitas region to avoid further take-overs by squatters and gold-panners who authorities say caused environmental damage by using mercury and other chemicals to separate out gold from the river’s sludge.