A third former Costa Rican president, Jose Maria Figueres, has been involved in a corruption scandal, local media reported Wednesday.

Figueres' predecessor Rafael Calderon and successor Miguel Angel Rodriguez were arrested for corruption this month.

Figueres, who was president between 1994 and 1998, allegedly received 900,000 US dollars between 2000 and 2003 from Alcatel, a French telecommunications company.

Figueres' legal representative in Costa Rica, Mario Baltodano, said Tuesday that the money his client received from the company was legal as he was no longer head of state at the time.

Figueres is now chief executive officer of the Geneva-based World Economic Forum.

He was hired as an adviser to Alcatel by H.F. Desarrollos Interdisciplinarios S.A., whose owner, Roberto Hidalgo Araya, served as advisor to his administration, local media said.

The charges against him were brought about by Hidalgo Araya andan ex-politician, Carmen Valverde, it is reported.

Rodriguez was arrested on Oct. 15 upon arrival in Costa Rica from Washington after his resignation as secretary general of the Organization of American States. He was accused of receiving moneyfrom Alcatel when he was president.

Calderon was detained a week later for receiving bribes, illegal enrichment and involvement in the illegal use of a foreignloan.

Source: Xinhua