The Tico Times Online Daily Page

Daily Edition: San José, Costa Rica, February 03, 2003

CLOSED: Former Minister José Miguel Villalobos argues that former Luis Enrique Villalobos clients need to sue government to get their money back.

Villalobos Defends Villalobos
Insinuating that there are political forces at play behind the freezing of Costa Rican businessman Luis Enrique Villalobos' bank accounts and the subsequent investigation of money laundering charges, former Justice Minister José Miguel Villalobos yesterday stressed that the only way the case would be resolved is for former clients to sue the Costa Rican government.
(Click for more)

Nicoya Hit With Two Quakes
Two strong earthquakes with epicenters between the Pacific beaches of Playa Garza and Playa Sámara, shook the Nicoya Peninsula Friday afternoon.
(Click for more)

February 03

Meeing for Newcomers to Women's Group
Featuring a lecture on the National Symphony Orchestra by Grace Woodman and a mini concert by orchestra members, on Feb. 4, at 9:30 a.m., at Colonia del Prado Club House, Ciudad Colón. Info: 232-3999.

Opening of the Largest Tourist Center in C.R.
free food and drinks, craft, souvenirs, and art display, Mon.-Wed., Feb. 3-5 at Plaza Esmeralda, Pavas, 800 m. south, 50 m. east of Pali. Info: 296-9043, 296-1008.

Cartoon "Mazinger Z"
30 best episodes, Mon., Wed., Fri., Feb. 4-7, at 6 p.m., at Children’s Museum, Ca. 4, Av. 6. Info: 258-4929.

Lucinda Tosi
Watercolors, Café Candil, 100 m. east and 75 m. north of San Pedro Church, through Feb. 6. Info: 273-0876, 273-3903.

Return To Top Of Page

Villalobos Defends Villalobos
By Tim Rogers
trogers@ticotimes.net

Insinuating that there are political forces at play behind the freezing of Costa Rican businessman Luis Enrique Villalobos' bank accounts and the subsequent investigation of money laundering charges, former Justice Minister José Miguel Villalobos yesterday stressed that the only way the case would be resolved is for former clients to sue the Costa Rican government.

For at least 10 years, Luis Enrique Villalobos paid out 2.8 - 3% monthly interest payments on minimum investments of $10,000. He unexpectedly closed his businesses on Oct. 14, 2002 and is currently the subject of an investigation into alleged money laundering through his accounts. Villalobos' whereabouts are unknown and an arrest warrant was issued for him in November (TT, July 12,19,26, Aug. 2, 16, Oct. 18, Nov.1, 22, 29).

Speaking to a group of more than 500 former clients of the unregulated financial operation known as "The Brothers," former Minister Villalobos told a predominantly U.S.-expat crowd that they are facing battles on two fronts.

"We are facing a legal battle and a public opinion battle, both of which we are losing," he said.

In what was clearly a sales pitch to represent the United Concerned Citizens and Residents (UCCR) in a type of class-action suit against the government, José Miguel Villalobos, fired from his post as Justice Minister last October after six months on the job (TT, Nov. 1), said he doesn't think Luis Enrique Villalobos is guilty of money laundering and that the government appears to have a weak case against him.

If the investors sue the government, guest speaker Villalobos said, the government will be forced to show its cards and resolve the case in next six months. He did not say who in government should be sued, or what the charges should be.

José Miguel Villalobos -- who joked he wasn't "the third Villalobos brother -- has reportedly offered his legal services to the group for $100,000, according to a UCCR source.

"The government doesn't have a legal case, but I am worried because the government has all the time in the world, and we don't," he alleged.

José Miguel Villalobos said he thinks there are political and economic motives behind the government's investigation of Luis Enrique Villalobos, but he would not specify who or what he believes is conspiring against the fugitive businessman. Instead, José Miguel Villalobos said, in what has become his catch phrase, "If I say any more, they will throw me in jail."

He did, however, also suggest that local banks could be behind the persecution of the Villalobos brothers.

"If they continue the freeze on [Villalobos'] accounts, no one will give money to anyone else except the banks," he said. "The local banks are happy about this."

Former Minister Villalobos claimed that Luis Enrique Villalobos is not a criminal, but that the group of former clients would have to work together and intelligently to prove the businessman's innocence, or they would be committing a "collective suicide."

The former minister said he thinks Luis Enrique Villalobos will pay back his clients if the case is settled in his favor and he is allowed to return to the country.

"Villalobos is not a criminal, and we need to convince [the press and the government] of this," he said. "If you [former clients] do this, it doesn't work very well; but if a former Minister of Justice does this, it makes a difference."

The UCCR is reportedly asking its members to pay for Villalobos' legal counsel by offering half of .5% of the monthly interest payment they used to receive from Luis Enrique Villalobos.

The United Don Luis Enrique Villalobos Defense Front, a second group of former investors, also met yesterday to discuss a joint plan of action. The group allegedly collected 100 petitions requesting Jeanette Arias of the Public Ministry's Victim's Assistance Office and President Abel Pacheco to release the frozen funds.

Return To Top Of Page

PARLACEN Calls on UN Members
to Respect Resolution 1441

GUATEMALA CITY (AFP) -- The five member countries of the Central American Parliament (PARLACEN) signed a petition Friday asking the international community to respect the terms of United Nations (UN) Resolution 1441, permitting UN the time they need to comply with weapons inspections in Iraq.

PARLACEN President Agusto Vela of Guatemala stressed his organization is opposed to any UN member countries acting outside of the resolution by resorting to military force against Iraq.

"PARLACEN is asking all governments, congresses and parliaments of UN member states to take a position of world peace and peaceful conflict resolution through dialogue and negotiations," the declaration reads.

The Central American Parliament is composed of 20 deputies from each country on the isthmus except for Costa Rica, which opted not to participate.

Return To Top Of Page

Child Pregnancy Shocks Turrialba

The Caribbean slope community of Turrialba last Friday was sickened by the news that the nine-year-old daughter of Nicaraguan immigrants is pregnant after being raped by a local campesino.

According to doctors, the girl, whose identity is being protected because of her age, is the youngest recorded pregnancy in Costa Rica. Her physical and mental condition is reportedly "very delicate."

Dr. Henry Troper, who has been attending the young girl in the hospital, explained that pregnancies at such a young age are very rare, but have been known to occur due to the small percentage of girls who begin menstruation at the age of 9 or 10.

However, he added, just because some girls experience early menstruation "does not mean that she is ready to bear a child, because she doesn't have the intellectual, physical or psychological capacity to go through childbirth."

Joaquín Aguilar, psychiatrist for the Child Welfare Agency (PANI), is calling the incident an "atrocity."

"This girl has no idea what happened; she only knows that her body is undergoing some abrupt change, which could cause trauma," he said.

Costa Rica is a Catholic country and abortion is illegal.
-AFP

Return To Top Of Page

Nicoya Hit With Two Quakes

Two strong earthquakes with epicenters between the Pacific beaches of Playa Garza and Playa Sámara, shook the Nicoya Peninsula Friday afternoon.

The first quake, a 5.0 on the Richter Scale, occurred at 12:30 p.m., followed by a 4.8-magnitude tremor at 2:12 p.m.

Both quakes reportedly caused people to run out of their homes, but neither one caused structural damage or injuries.

Return To Top Of Page