Vol. VIII, No. 3 - San José, Costa Rica, Thursday, September 12,  2002

Anderson’s Citizenship
in Appeals Court
The file on Keith Anderson’s windy extradition case and confusing Tico citizenship dilemma this week was bounced into San José’s Second Circuit Appeals Court, where judges have 15 days to review the paperwork before setting a date for an audience to hear all involved sides.
(Click for more)

President Calls for
Culture of Paying Taxes
Addressing Comptroller General Luis Fernando Vargas and the nation, President Abel Pacheco yesterday called on all Costa Ricans to work toward a culture of responsible tax-paying.
(Click for more)

Highway Tolls Raised
Throughout Country
Hold on to all that extra change that collects in your pockets everyday, the Ministry of Transport (MOPT) has raised toll fees throughout the country, reported the daily La Nación.
(Click for more)

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Anderson’s Citizenship
in Appeals Court
|By Tim Rogers
Tico Times Staff

 The file on Keith Anderson’s windy extradition case and confusing Tico citizenship dilemma this week was bounced into San José’s Second Circuit Appeals Court, where judges have 15 days to review the paperwork before setting a date for an audience to hear all involved sides.

Anderson, the 62-year old founder of Anderson’s Ark & Associates, was arrested here Feb. 9 at the request of the U.S. Justice Department for allegedly defrauding the U.S. out of $28 million in illegal tax refunds. Since his arrest, the mystic self-styled lawyer and “tax teacher” has remained behind bars in San Sebastian Jail.

San José Criminal Judge Patricia Solano ruled in favor of the U.S.’ extradition request July 24, but before Anderson was deported, he was granted Tico citizenship Aug. 9 in decision the Civil Registry later admitted was a mistake and tried to quickly undue (TT, Aug. 23).

Anderson’s defense lawyer Moisés Vincenzi, meanwhile, claims the Civil Registry was not following due process by “suspending” his client’s citizenship, and filed a flurry of appeals – the most recent of which was thrown out of the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court (Sala IV) this week “without consideration” (TT Daily Page, Sept. 6).

The Appeals Court – which will hear arguments from Vincenzi, the U.S. Embassy, the Supreme Elections Tribunal and the Ministry of Public Security – will ultimately have the last say on Anderson’s citizenship, and whether or not it can protect him from extradition.  However, Vincenzi says he still has legal options to appeal an unfavorable ruling.

Follow TT Daily Page for Updates on Anderson Case.

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President Calls for
Culture of Paying Taxes

Addressing Comptroller General Luis Fernando Vargas and the nation, President Abel Pacheco yesterday called on all Costa Ricans to work toward a culture of responsible tax-paying.

Noting that government corruption, inefficiency in state institutions and under-funded programs has made many Costa Ricans wary of paying taxes, Pacheco urged citizens not to lose faith in government and stressed that his administration is working to hold elected officials more accountable to the use of limited public funds.

“Our first reaction [as Costa Ricans] is ‘why pay taxes if the government is just going to rob the money?” Pacheco said. “But the solution is not to stop paying taxes, because this would mean the end of the state.

“The solution,” he added, “is to demand more efficiency, transparency and disclosure.”

Pacheco stressed that his government has worked toward these ends during his four months in office, and asked for everyone’s help in continuing the mission.

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Highway Tolls Raised
Throughout Country

Hold on to all that extra change that collects in your pockets everyday, the Ministry of Transport (MOPT) has raised toll fees throughout the country, reported the daily La Nación.

Drivers on the General Cañas highway between San José and Alajuela, the Florencio Castillo highway in Cartago, and the Próspero Fernández highway in Santa Ana must now pay ¢75 ($.20), up from ¢60 ($.16). Medium-sized vehicle and bus operators must pay an additional ¢30 ($.08) and fees for trucks have been raised from ¢200 ($.54) to ¢250 ($.68).

On the Bernardo Soto highway between Alajuela and San Ramón, tolls have been raised to ¢150 ($.41) for cars, ¢375 ($1.02) for medium-sized vehicles and buses, and ¢950 ($2.60) for large trucks.

Meanwhile, on the Braulio Carrillo highway, cars are now being charged ¢250 ($.68), while the toll on medium-sized vehicles and busses is up to ¢750 ($2.04) and truck drivers will have to pay a whopping ¢1,875 ($5.10).

Rates for motorcycles has been raised by ¢10 ($.03) on all roads.

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