Q COSTARICA — The Economic Affairs legislative committee issued a majority ruling on File 24,658, which eliminates the need for a court order to lift bank secrecy. The bill also stipulates that when the Financial Analysis Unit of the Costa Rican Drug Institute (ICD) notifies a bank of an ongoing investigation, it must inform the Public Prosecutor’s Office. From that moment, the Prosecutor’s Office will have five calendar days to consider requesting the release of information on related clients. The bill, which will now begin its final discussion, reforms Article 18 of Ley Contra la Delincuencia Organizada (Law Against Organized Crime) to expedite judicial proceedings. We hope it survives the Plenary and becomes law of the Republic,” said legislator Guillén.