Chile and Costa Rica arrest suspects for presidential social media threats

Authorities in Chile and Costa Rica have arrested individuals following death threats made against their respective heads of state on social media.

In Chile, the Investigative Police (PDI) detained a 23-year-old woman in Talca after she posted messages on Instagram containing insults and references to a firearm directed at President José Antonio Kast. The alert was triggered by Meta Platforms. The suspect is facing charges of threatening an authority.

In Costa Rica, the Judicial Investigation Organism (OIJ) arrested a 27-year-old man in Alajuela for allegedly posting threats involving a firearm against President Laura Fernández. The posts originated around her inauguration on May 8. This marks the fourth such arrest involving threats against the president this year.

Separately in Chile, Rubén Rojo Maturana, the former director of CICITEM, has been arrested after failing to appear for a court hearing. He is under investigation for the alleged embezzlement of approximately $729 million in public funds between 2022 and 2025 through more than 300 transfers to personal accounts.