The Tico Times Online Daily Page

Daily Edition: San José, Costa Rica, December 04, 2002

VERDICT DUE: UCR law student observing the trial of the alleged pedophile ring reads article on the self-declared "boy lovers."
TT/ Julio Laínez

NEWS FLASH!!

Posted at 11:20 a.m.
Anderson Extradited in Midnight Jail Raid

After fighting extradition to the U.S. for nearly 10 months, accused U.S. tax rebel Keith Anderson was nabbed in jail last night at midnight and whisked to the airport and placed on a private jet to Miami.

According to Anderson's cellmate at San Sebastian Jail, Costa Rican police burst into the cell at 11:45 p.m., shook Anderson awake and told him he had five minutes to pack his bags. Confused by sleep and unaware that his extradition had been approved, Anderson had time to call his lawyer before being taken away.

"This is unbelievable, this is unbelievable, I don't understand how this could happen," Anderson's wife Ana told The Tico Times, during a frantic phone call at 12:30 a.m.

Defense lawyer Moíses Vincenzi told The Tico Times during a 2:00 a.m. phone call that the court had still not ruled on Anderson's controversial Costa Rican citizenship.

Read Friday's TT print edition for full coverage.

Plane Missing in Jungle
By Tim Rogers
More than 30 search and rescue workers from the Red Cross and various government organizations conducted a massive combing of the jungle by foot and by air south of Paso de La Palma, near Irazú Volcano in the eastern Central Valley, after a single-engine Cesna 206 lost radio contact yesterday afternoon and presumably crashed.
(Click for more)

Ruling Due in Alleged Pedophile Case
By Tim Rogers
The defense team concluded its arguments yesterday afternoon in Latin America's first-ever trial of an alleged pedophile ring, busted during a police-controlled orgy July 2001 (TT, July 13, 2001).
(Click for more)

December 04

Poetry Night
By Camilo Rodríguez, Cristy Van Der Laat and Leda García, also trova concert by Luis Angel Castro, at 8 p.m., Chubascos Restaurant, next to Moravia Municipality. Info: 241-1730.

Christmas Carols
At 6 p.m. in front of the National Theater, Av. 2, Ca. 3-5. Info: 233-1272.

Don’t Miss this Concert
Internationally recognized Editus trio (guitar, violin and percusion) and pianist Manuel Obregón are performing at 10 p.m., at Jazz Café, across from Banco Popular, San Pedro. Info: 253-8933.

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Plane Missing in Jungle
By Tim Rogers
trogers@ticotimes.net

More than 30 search and rescue workers from the Red Cross and various government organizations conducted a massive combing of the jungle by foot and by air south of Paso de La Palma, near Irazú Volcano in the eastern Central Valley, after a single-engine Cesna 206 lost radio contact yesterday afternoon and presumably crashed.

The plane's Emergency Location Transmitter did not go off, making its exact whereabouts unknown.

Piloted by Costa Rican Alfredo Salazar, the Cesna belonged to a private air taxi company called Taxi Aéreo, but was not carrying any passengers. Civil Aviation spokesman Oldemar Madrigal told The Tico Times yesterday that the plane lost radio contact and the reason for the presumed crash are unknown.

The plane took off late Monday morning from Tobías Bolaños airport en route to the Caribbean- slope town of Guápiles before losing radio contact at 12:08 p.m. Five and a half hours later the plane had not reappeared and was officially declared missing, prompting Red Cross and government rescue workers to start their search.

The search was called off Monday at 8:20 p.m., and was resumed yesterday morning at 5:30 with the help of helicopters, planes and foot patrol.

After nearly two days of searching, there is still no sign of the plane.

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Ruling Due in Alleged Pedophile Case
By Tim Rogers
trogers@ticotimes.net

The defense team concluded its arguments yesterday afternoon in Latin America's first-ever trial of an alleged pedophile ring, busted during a police-controlled orgy July 2001 (TT, July 13, 2001).

The five Costa Rican men, who allegedly called themselves the "Anonymous Pedophile Association of Costa Rica" are accused of giving drugs to minors, sexually exploiting minors and producing child pornography. Prosecutors are reportedly asking for up to 98 years of prison for alleged ringleader Christian Araya, a 32-year-old former audio/visual technician at the University of Costa Rica.

Casa Alianza and Ministry of Public Security's Special Sex Crimes Unit used a fake cyber-personality to infiltrate the organization -- known as APA for short -- and arrange for an orgy party with young boys. An undercover officer then attended the secretly monitored party posing as an out-of-town pervert, and signed the police to raid at the appropriate moment.

Defense lawyers yesterday made their case that the whole orgy was a case of entrapment authored by Casa Alianza.

Bruce Harris, director of Casa Alianza, told The Tico Times yesterday that his organization worked carefully with the prosecutors and was careful to only provide material resources during the investigation.

Casa Alianza investigator Rocío Rodríguez, who spearheaded the Internet investigation of the alleged pedophile ring and delivered the key testimony last week, has been targeted for repeated death threats from unidentified Spanish-speaking callers. The international community responded to the threats by sending e-mails to President Abel Pacheco demanding the government protect Rodríguez (TT, Nov. 29). The government has not assigned police to protect Casa Alianza offices.

After hearing yesterday's closing arguments, the three-judge panel handling the case is deliberating today before handing down the verdict Thursday

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Leaders of Government Institutions
Won't Receive Christmas Bonus
By Fabián Borges
Tico Times Staff

Labor Minister Ovidio Pacheco announced yesterday that members of the boards of directors of autonomous institutions won't receive aguinaldos (Christmas bonuses equal to one month's salary) this year. The decision is part of the current government's continued effort to cut spending and reduce the fiscal deficit.

Traditionally, the directors' boards received aguinaldos under a law that allows institutions running a surplus to decide whether to hand out the bonuses. Pacheco, however, said the time-honored practice is an excessive privilege at a time when the government's institutions must do everything possible to limit spending.

"Their (board members) situation is different from that of regular employees (which by law are entitled to receive the aguinaldo)," Pacheco explained. "First of all, they don't receive salaries, they get paid per diem. Also, they don't work on a set schedule and aren't part of institutions' hierarchy. For these reasons, we've decided that no institution should pay them a bonus.

"This is a moral and ethical dilemma, not a legal issue," he added.

Pacheco asked the payroll departments of every institution to cancel all paperwork pertaining to the board members' aguinaldos. Board members who have already received their bonuses are being asked to please give them back them as soon as possible.

A bill aimed at revoking the law allowing payment of aguinaldos to the boards of directors is currently being drafted and could be presented to congress as early as next week.

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