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| A.M. Costa Rica Second newspage |
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| Costa Rica Expertise Ltd http://crexpertise.com E-mail info@crexpertise.com Tel:506-256-8585 Fax:506-256-7575 |
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Go to Page 4 HERE! Go to Page 5 HERE! Sports is HERE! |
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Tica murder suspect
A lawyer's responsefinally found in U.S. By the A.M. Costa Rica staff
U.S. police captured a Costa Rican woman who they suspect murdered a business associate 10 years ago after she tricked him into meeting and hit him over the head. The International Police Agency (INTERPOL) had been tracking the suspect, Magdalena Bolañas Pacheco, for nearly 10 years, and found her in Long Island, New York, they said. Police suspect Ms. Bolañas worked with her husband, Laureano Montero, to commit the murder, said a spokesperson from the International Police Agency. The couple arranged to meet with the victim, José Andrés Borrase Taylor, to discuss a property dispute, according to a police spokesperson. Investigators suspect that one of them whacked Borrase over the head. The couple then allegedly drove to a farm in San Diego de Tres Rios, where one of them shot Borrase three times with a rifle, according to the allegation. The criminal court in Cartago sentenced Montero to 25 years in prison, but Ms. Bolañas escaped to Panamá, according to police. The international police agency found Ms. Bolaños with a boyfriend, three children and a gardening business worth at least $1.5 million, they said. Ms. Bolaños, had a new passport and visa from Guatemala with the name, Veronica Giron Solar, they said. Police who surveyed the house found that Ms. Bolaños stayed home all the time tending to the garden and only left at night or to bring her children to school. The couple had numerous cars including a Mercedes Benz four-wheel-drive, said the spokesperson. Agents from the Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested Ms. Bolaños when she was leaving her home, said the police spokesperson. Authorities from Colombia, Guatemala and Costa Rica worked on the case, said the spokesperson. contained major inaccuracies Dear A.M. Costa Rica: Your article on Mr. Michael James Forrest's recent acquittal of every single charge he was hitherto facing (A.M. Costa Rica, No. 70) contains gross misrepresentations, both from a factual and a legal standpoint. Contrary to what the sole "Court spokeswoman" you claim to have interviewed informed you, Mr. Forrest was found not guilty of any criminal wrongdoing by virtue of ruling N° 477-2008, and, consequently, neither Mr. Forrest nor any of his companies were ordered to pay any "restitution" whatsoever to anybody. Rather, Principal Services S.A. — a company unrelated to him — was found by the tribunal to be the sole obligee as per said ruling, in spite of the fact that no Principal Services representative has been on trial as they remain at large, due to the inability of the Costa Rican prosecution to extradite them from the United States since 2004. It could be argued that, as per Costa Rican law, it is illegal for a court of law to order civil restitution from a criminal action if the accused is not duly served and present for trial. However, the restitution ordered is an incontestable indication from the tribunal on exactly where they perceive that the liabilities — if any — actually reside. Worse yet, you further state that "Forrest was a main representative of the company [Principal Services] which later became known as Montefiore." Firstly, Principal Services S.A. and Montefiore S.A. were proved to be unrelated companies, and one did not become the other, as your article inaccurately suggests. Secondly, Principal Services never moved their offices from Torre Mercedes to Edificio Colón [sic]. The reporter again confuses both entities. Lastly, it was proved during the trial that Forrest was not a "representative" of Principal Services at any point — hence his acquittal. A.M. Costa Rica's journalists — as well as any other journalist in a free society — have an inescapable responsibility to employ ethic methods of verification in order to inform its public as correctly as possible. By quoting a sole source — who interestingly prefers to remain anonymous — you can expect the accuracy of the information you receive and eventually publish to suffer greatly. Mauricio Brenes
Defense lawyer for Mr. Forrest EDITOR'S NOTE: The bulk of the story was based on the written decision by the panel of judges rather than the verbal information provided by the court spokeswoman. So any inaccuracies are the work of A.M. Costa Rica.
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| A.M. Costa Rica third newspage |
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| Arias
goes on the air to deny rumors he played drug politics |
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By the A.M. Costa Rica staff
President Óscar Arias Sánchez defended his choice of a teacher to be minister of security Thursday and also denied that he had entered into a political deal to keep secret the names of Costa Rican politicians linked to Colombian drug terrorists. The president gave his recorded talk on the cadena nacional, a hookup that included national television and radio stations. Arias was responding to published and private criticisms of his choice of Janina del Vecchio to be security minister. She has no experience in law enforcement but is an Arias loyalist. Arias also rejected the idea that he had played politics with information over local individuals linked to the terrorists to get approval for the enabling legislation for the free trade treaty with the United States. A recurring rumor is that Arias muzzled Fernando Berrocal Soto, the former security minister, in exchange for agreement from the opposing Partido Acción Ciudadana to stop delaying the legislation. Arias said he always has been sincere and transparent with the country. "Neither Don Fernando Berrocal nor any minister in my government manages information that suggest illegal links between Costa Rican political figures and the FARC," he said, using the initials of the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarais de Colombia. Any information the government has or received from Colombia sources has been turned over to the Asamblea Legislativa, said Arias."I never have hidden anything from the Costa Ricans, and I am not going to start now," he said. Of the rumor that he used inside information for political advantage, Arias said such allegations were completely false. "I will not be a circus dancer who today uses security to raise suspicions without foundation because tomorrow they will use health and the next day education and next week tourism." Arias promised not to lower the country's guard against narcotraffickers or criminals. And he characterized Ms. del Vecchio as a capable person who can make decisions with unquestioned integrity. |
In the past, university professors,
lawyers and diplomats without any
law enforcement experience were named security minister, he said.
Nobody questioned these appointments, perhaps because those being named
were men, he said. The various news media have questioned the appointment by Arias because Ms. del Vecchio, who now serves in the assembly, is a math professor by education. One of the most chilling comments came on a national television channel an hour before Arias spoke. A woman who had just lost a son to armed robbers told the camera that the country needed a strong hand in security but that Arias had given the nation a maestra, a teacher. Earlier in the day Rogelio Ramos, the security minister in the previous Abel Pacheco government testified before the Comisión Permanente Especial de Narcotráfico. He tore into Berrocal and questioned the math that had been used to calculate that large quantities of cocaine had been confiscated. Some 42 percent of the amount actually had been confiscated by the U.S. Coast Guard on the high seas, Ramos said. Berrocal was proud that during his two years in the ministry more drugs had been confiscated than under the previous administration. Ramos disputed that idea. In fact he was so critical of Berrocal that Sandra Quesada, a member of the committee, said that she would have preferred if Ramos left his personal gripes with Berrocal outside the hearing room. The controversy all stems from the March 1 raid just inside Ecuador where Colombian soldiers killed terrorists and confiscated three laptops used by a top Fuerzas Armadas leader. The computers and the e-mails within led police to some $480,000 in terrorist money hidden in a Santa Bárbara de Heredia home March 14. The next day Berrocal suggested that some politicians were linked to the terrorists. That comment eventually got him fired. Since then published reports have noted that Ramos, himself, met with a Fuerzas Armadas leader in his capacity as security minister. The reports also linked a member of the José María Figueres administration (1994-1998) and a current deputy, José Merino del Río with efforts to negotiate between the terrorists and the Colombian government. But published reports also say that there is a network of Colombians in Costa Rica who are working on behalf of the terrorists. |
 A.M. Costa Rica/José Pablo
Ramírez Vindas
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New police officers stand to remember victims of recent violent crimes. The class includes new members of the Servicio Nacional de Guardacostas. |
| New
class of peace officers sworn in with call to become close to
communities |
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By the A.M. Costa Rica staff
Before new police recruits raised their hands to swear their loyalty to the country Thursday, the soon-to-be security minister Janina del Vecchio gave them some advice. “As police officers, I invite you to visit your communities with affection and great hope,” she said. Ms. del Vecchio, who will be sworn in as the new security minister on April 25, has encouraged a more integral security program called “recover the peace.” Not everyone has supported the new plan, but Laura Chinchilla, vice president and temporary security minister, announced that she would invite one of the major critics to to join the security ministry in the fight on crime. The critic, Juan Diego Castro Fernández, a former security minister and a lawyer has been particularly skeptical of the new administration and the “recover the peace” plan. Castro |
studies
current policies and crime statistics. In November he released a
report at his law firm that claimed to show that most crimes were not
punished. The graduation welcomed 347 new police officers. New police recruits, 35 national guard officers and some police officers who had been serving without diplomas, graduated in an outdoors ceremony at the security ministry. Officials stood in solidarity with the parents of the victims of violence in recent days. One of those remembered was Graciela Tioli, 11, who died when a robber shot into the window of her home. Ms. Vecchio told the new officers that she wants to see police on the streets, serving the community and not locked up in police stations. She also said that she has asked Gerardo Láscarez, vice minister of security, to remain in office and organize a fight against car highjacking and house robberies. He had resigned as of May 1. |
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| You need to see Costa Rican tourism information HERE! |
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Go to second newspage HERE! Go to third newspage HERE! Fifth newspage is HERE! The sports page is HERE! |
 A Chinese acrobat juggles plates while the
French group 'Retouramont' flies through the air.
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International art fair opens
today in Parque la Sabana
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By the A.M. Costa Rica staff
A world of cultures and colors opens in Parque La Sabana today. The “art boulevard” will be complete with train, a Chinese pavilion, a Russian pavilion, 140 artists from around the globe, and a street of children's games. The transformation of Parque La Sabana is only a small piece of Costa Rica's sixth annual Festival Internacional de las Artes. The international art festival will host activities in San José, Alajuela, Puntarenas. Events will be held in seven theaters around San José as well as the major museums and main plaza. French dancers will glide through the air on sky high type ropes, Chinese acrobats will balance precariously on top of each other, and martial artists will demonstrate fast paced Brazilian capoeira. |
A main theme of this year's art
boulevard is focused on the
conservation of environment and water resources, several Costa Rican
artists have created projects based on this issue. Artists from
at
least 21 countries will perform and participate in the events which
last until April 20. This year's guest of honor is China. The Beijing youth opera will perform at Teatro Nacional Saturday and Sunday. Other highlights are Spanish singer Rosario Flores, the Puerto Rican Cheo Feliciano and the Argentine group "Urban Shock," a multidisciplinary group that mixes drama, dance and unconventional percussion instruments. Antonio El Pipa and his flamenco group will perform at Teatro Nacional April 19 and 20. The schedule for hundreds of other performances can be viewed at www.festivaldelasartescostarica.com |
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Frontier Airlines' parent
company files for Chapter 11 reorgranization
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By the A.M. Costa Rica staff
Frontier Airlines Holdings, Inc. reported early Friday that it had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in U.S. District Court in New York. The company said its principal credit card processor unexpectedly increased a hold back of customer receipts. Frontier Airlines Holdings, Inc. is the parent company of Frontier Airlines. The airline operates a direct flight six days a week from San José to Denver, Colorado. The airline said that a full flight schedule will continue and that it will honor |
reservations, and provide refunds
and exchanges according to its normal policy. "By filing for Chapter 11, we will now have the time and legal protection necessary to obtain additional financing and enhance our liquidity," said Sean Menke, Frontier president and CEO. "Fortunately, we believe that we currently have adequate cash on hand to meet our operating needs while we take steps to further strengthen our company." Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the United States allows a company to reorganize. A company that chooses to liquidate files Chapter 13. Liquidation always is an option if the reorganization is not successful. |
| Sometimes a quick bus trip requires some originality |
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| Normally, when I take a
city
bus to an appointment, a meeting or a date, I get there right on the
dot. Whoever is arriving by car, or with a different cultural
attitude, may be late, but not me. Saving money is important to
me, so I travel by bus a lot. I have figured out how long it will take me to walk the four blocks to the bus stop (and which bus stop to walk to) and how long different buses will take me where I want to go. And I have arrived on time without paying a cent, because I have bus passes. Not so on Sunday. I had plans and a ticket to attend the Sunday morning concert at the Teatro Nacional. On Sundays concerts start at 10:30 in the morning. A very nice way to start a Sunday, in my opinion. I had figured that if I left at 9:15, I would be there in more than enough time. If I left at 9:30, I would make it comfortably. I left at 9:30 because I couldn’t find my current bus book. A bus book is a one I reserve for reading on buses and waiting in lines. It must be small enough to fit in my purse and not add too much weight. My last two bus books, interestingly, were by two friends, “A Year with Carmen” by Mavis Biesanz and “Nona” by Ellen Boneparth. Mavis’ book contains short stories about Costa Rica in both Spanish and English. “Nona” is the story of a childless woman who takes on the responsibility of being surrogate mother to and sponsoring the education of her goddaughter who happens to be a lively 15-year-old from a Greek Island. I recommend both. Back to my problems with getting to the theater on time. By the time I found my book it was 9:30, and off I hurried. I arrived at the bus stop to learn from the one waiting person that the Sabana Estadio had just left. I waited for the next, counting the minutes. Just as I was going to break down and get a taxi, the next one came. We got to Sabana Oeste, about five blocks on the route, |
But wait! Another bus was just pulling up. I got
on. Unfortunately,
we sat for four minutes waiting for more passengers. Two stops
later
40 people came running towards the bus. I rang to get off,
waiting for
him to open the back door, but the bus driver ignored me. I
fought my
way through the now standing overflow of passengers and told the driver
I had to get off, then worked my way back to the rear exit. I got
off
and began to walk and wave at every taxi. Two blocks later a
taxista
stopped to pick me up. It was 10 after 10. “Teatro
Nacional,” I
said. “Y estoy tarde.” |
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Three-day vacation
quickly becomes a four-day one By the A.M. Costa Rica staff
Those sounds you hear are the family cars headed to the beach again. Or maybe to Alajuela. Today is the unofficial start of a four-day weekend. Today is Juan Santamaría Day, and the commemoration of the Battle of Riva, Nicaragua, and the so-called Campaña Nacional, will be at 9 a.m. in Parque Juan Santamaría. The Provincia de Alajuela, Santamaría's birthplace, will hold a fiesta at the Autódromo La Guácima. Included is a tope or horse gathering Saturday. There also will be rides, bulls and food. Monday, which is a legal holiday, will see a rodeo at the fair grounds. This is one of those weekends where the holiday is celebrated on a Monday regardless of the actual date. Recognizing that many workers will take off Friday, too, the fair began Thursday at 4 p.m. Santamaría is the national hero credited with setting fire to a strong point during the Battle of Rivas in 1856. The act cost him his life. Costa Rican soldiers were fighting the Nicaraguan forces of William Walker, the U.S. filibusterer who wanted to make himself ruler of Central America or at least bring some of the countries into the United States as slave territories. Those who stay in town have the gallo pinto festival Sunday in Paseo Colón where the national breakfast dish will be produced by an army of professional chefs. The three-day weekend play became law to help tourism, and this weekend is probably the last one where vacationers might be able to avoid afternoon rains. Burn victim donations reported up to $3,322 By the A.M. Costa Rica staff
Donations for Olga Efimenko and her mother, who was burned in a Santa Ana house fire, were up to $3,322, said Joanne Loewen, the donations coordinator. The money will go to renting a house for Ms. Efimenko, until a new home can be constructed, said Ms. Loewen. It is uncertain whether the insurance policy will cover any of the burned house, which was bought under the name of Maria Tchereneva, Ms. Efimenko's mother. The hospital is accepting donations for Ms. Tchereneva. Donations can be given at any hospital's blood bank, under the name Maria Tchereneva, said Ms. Loewen. Ms. Efimenko, originally from Russia, had been working at the popular Santa Ana Rock & Roll Pollo restaurant for about two years, said coworkers. Ms. Loewen, a friend of Ms. Efimenko has been collecting donations with the help of local restaurants like Rock & Roll Pollo. Ms. Tchereneva, 86, was left severely burned after she tried to fight the fire, said a friend. |
| A.M. Costa Rica Sports news local and from the wires |
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