The World Economic Forum, which organises an annual pow-wow of global powerbrokers in Davos Switzerland, on Friday announced the resignation of its second-in-command, former Costa Rican President Jose Maria Figueres, who has been implicated in a corruption scandal in Costa Rica.
Figueres defended himself in the Swiss newspaper Tages Anzieger on Friday against accusations that he had pocketed 900,000 dollars (700,000 euros) in bribes from French telecommunications equipment maker Alcatel.
"The accusations against me are of a political nature," he said. The WEF nonetheless accepted Figueres resignation after learning in the press of the allegations against him.
"The World Economic Forum has been informed of allegations in the press against Jose Maria Figueres that are related with his years of public service in Costa Rica," the organisation said in a statement.