The Tico Times Online Daily Page

Daily Edition: San José, Costa Rica, December 10, 2002

UNSOLVED CRIMES: Citizen group asks Pacheco to request FBI help in Medina murder.
TT/Julio Laínez

Police Raid Milanés Warehouse
By David Boddiger
In yet another high-profile arrest in the ongoing investigation of Savings Unlimited, a high-interest investment company gone bust, members of the Judicial Investigative Police late Monday afternoon raided the northeast San José toy and clothing distribution warehouse owned by José Milanés, brother of Savings Unlimited front-man Luis Milanés.
(Click for more)

December 10

Dance Classes Closing Ceremony
Including a show by Taller Nacional de Danza, at 7 p.m., at Melico Salazar Theater, Av. 2, Ca. Ctrl.-1. Info: 221-4952.

Celia Cruz in Concert
The Queen of Salsa, at 8 p.m., at the Convention Center, Herradura Hotel, tickets on sale at Credomatic, 234-6266, ˘32,000 ($85).

Don’t Miss It!!
Due to Popular Demand, the Little Theater Group has added one extra performance of Kevin Glass’ spectacular one-man rendition of Charles Dickens’ classic A Christmas Carol. Extra show is Tuesday Night at 7:30 at Blanche Brown Theater in Bello Horizonte. Tickets going fast, call for reservations 289-3910.

Return To Top Of Page

Police Raid Milanés Warehouse
By David Boddiger
dboddiger@ticotimes.net

In yet another high-profile arrest in the ongoing investigation of Savings Unlimited, a high-interest investment company gone bust, members of the Judicial Investigative Police late Monday afternoon raided the northeast San José toy and clothing distribution warehouse owned by José Milanés, brother of Savings Unlimited front-man Luis Milanés.

During the raid, authorities detained both José Milanés and Enrique Pereira, who allegedly was Saving Unlimited's general manager and had been under investigation since the business' office unexpectedly closed its doors three weeks ago.

José Milanés' attorney, Rafael Garro, said his client had no ties with the investment operation, known as "The Cubans," which offered 3-4% monthly interest rates on "casino investments."

Garro said the search warrant presented yesterday by a judge did not list any criminal charges against Milanés or Pereira.

The raid and arrests are the most recent in a string of police actions involving both Milanés' operation and another high-interest "personal loan" business run by Luis Enrique Villalobos, whose operation was widely known as "The Brothers."

Look for the full story in this Friday's edition of The Tico Times.

Return To Top Of Page

Activists Ask Pacheco to Request
FBI Help in Medina Murder Probe

Commemorating the one-year, five-month anniversary of the killing of radio journalist Parmenio Medina, activist group Citizens Against Impunity yesterday sent a letter to President Abel Pacheco asking him to make good on his Sept. 11 promise to request the investigative assistance of the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) if the crime was not solved by December (TT Daily Page, Sept. 12).

"December has come and the crime has not been solved," reads the letter to Pacheco. "For this reason, we are making a public request that you take measures to ask [Costa Rican] investigative authorities to demonstrate the advances made in this investigation. If not, we will ask you in January to comply with your promise and request international help in clarifying this crime."

Parmenio Medina, the 62-year-old radio journalist behind the 28-year satirical radio program "La Patada" (The Kick) was shot to death in his car outside his house July 7, 2001, as he returned home from recording what would be his last program (TT, July 13, 2001).

The Judicial Investigative Police admitted several months ago that it was investigating four suspects and an intellectual author, a businessman who allegedly paid the gunmen some $28,000 to commit the crime. However, no suspects have been arrested.

Return To Top Of Page

Government Goes Digital

In an effort to close the gap between the Casa Presidencial and voters, and increase government transparency, President Abel Pacheco yesterday announced the government's new webpage www.go.cr, which, among other features, allows citizens to denounce acts of corruption over the Internet.

The new, Spanish-language Web site features government news, information, online surveys, interactive chat rooms, contact information for government workers, tourist information and helpful tools for investors. The Web site also allows users to pay their vehicle circulation permit fees online and conduct Public Registry searches.

Return To Top Of Page

Costa Rica Declared Landmine Free

James Harding, representative of César Gaviria, Secretary General of the Organization of American States, will join Foreign Minister Roberto Tovar, Security Minister Rogelio Ramos and diplomats from eight Latin American countries today at 10 a.m. in San José's Parque de la Paz to officially declare Costa Rica free of all landmines.

The de-mining project, which cleared more than 131,600 square meters of land near the border with Nicaragua, has helped to recapture land that was inactive for almost 20 years because of fear of landmines, Tovar said.

Since the de-mining project began here in September 1999, the Ministry of Public Security's 40-man minesweeping team cleared 346 mines and deactivated a number of other explosives, rockets, booby-traps and a 1,000-pound bomb left behind from the Nicaraguan war in the 1980s.

Two Costa Ricans have been killed and one injured after stepping on mines during the last 20 years. (TT, Sept. 28, 2001).

The last leg of the project was completed with the help of a $25,500 donation from the Italian government last October (TT Daily Page, Oct. 14).

One hundred and forty-six countries have signed the 1997 mine ban treaty, known as the Ottawa Convention. In the Americas, only Cuba and the United States have not ratified the treaty.

Return To Top Of Page