Archive for September 6th, 2010
Monday, September 6th, 2010
A formal complaint against William Dathan Holbert and Laura Michelle Reese for the murder of Wisconsin Attorney Jeffery A. Kline has been filed with prosecutors in Costa Rica. The complainant is Don Winner, an expatriate journalist from Panama, and he came to Costa Rica this past week and provided sworn statements, documents and other evidence before the Fiscalía General de la República.
Don Winner is also the person credited with bringing the original suspicions of the expatriate community in Bocas Del Torro before prosecutors in the Republic of Panama. This investigation prompted the discovery of the body determined to be Cher Lynn Hughes on property she owned prior to William Dathan Holbert. At the time Holbert living under the alias of “Wild” Bill Cortez became a fugitive, and fled Panama through Costa Rica before his apprehension at the Nicarguan border.
Holbert gave his real name to police in Nicaragua, which is when it became apparent he was an America’s Most Wanted in the United States. As the property fraud and auto theft charges against him in two states are relatively minor in comparison to the alleged murders Holbert and his companion Laura Michelle Reese were transfered to Panama.
Holbert has since confessed to prosecutors in Panama to the murder of five United States citizens, and the formal allegation made before prosecutors in Costa Rica by Don Winner will likely prompt the reinvestigation of a cold case from 2007 when a body was discovered beneath a home in Puerto Viejo.
According to Don Winner the body is a missing person from Wisconsin, Jeffery A. Kline and he has documented the history of both Kline and Holbert in Costa Rica since the time they met at at the Best Western Irazu in 2007.
More Victims in Costa Rica?
Of course the obvious concern is the search for more victims in Costa Rica. While it is unlikely that Holbert will ever be a free man again it is important to determine who else might be missing.
William Holbert and his companion Michelle Reese were known to be active in Puerto Viejo, Jaco, and occasionally in San Jose. There are also reports of them in Arenal, which is where they went to ground after fleeing Panama.
Holbert had no trouble getting around the country in as his first business in Costa Rica was to buy and sell vehicles. It’s likely that the $100,000 Holbert is alleged to have stolen from Kline financed this operation along with a blackmail scheme in Jaco.
Anyone with suspicious should take a close look at the full report of Don Winner and either get in contact with him or the officials named in the report. The contact in Costa Rica he identifies is Laura Monge Cantero and she works for the Fiscala Coordinadora in the Oficina de Asesoría Técnica y Relaciones Internacionales for the Fiscalía General de la República.
Information and photos for this article were provided by Don Winner and the Panama Guide.
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Monday, September 6th, 2010
For those looking for something spectacular and are willing to wait patiently, it is well worth the wait to see the humpback whales take center stage in the waters of Costa Rica’s south Pacific.
The Parque Nacional Marina Ballena (the Marine National Park) always includes whales as part of the tour for visitors.
However, on Thursday a group of dolphins and humpback whales gave visitors a special treat just before noon,
Their dynamic juggling and sunlight create a stunning image only Mother Nature can offer.
The humpback whales will be in Costa Rica for the next several months and as the mammals come to nest and it is a spectacular sight to see the males jump out of the water in competition for the females.
The Asociación de Tour Operadores del Parque Nacional Marino Ballena in association with the Instituto Costarricense de Turismo (ICT) and the Cámara de Turismo de Costa Ballenas are organizing the “II Festival de Ballenas y Delfines”.
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Monday, September 6th, 2010
September marks the beginning of the independence celebrations in Costa Rica, as it was in September 15 of 1821 when Costa Rica became independent. If you are a tourist in the country you’ll find out that there is no better time for a cultural travel experience in Costa Rica.
You might be surprised by the Costa Ricans patriotism and cultural fervor during this time of the year.
While you are touring the provinces it is quite common to see the different national symbols of Costa Rica decorating houses, offices, schools, etc, all to demonstrate joy for the tradition.
The majority of cultural elements come together in September, making it the perfect time to enjoy some interactive vacations with your family while learning some unique aspects of the Costa Ricans lifestyle, traditions and cultural environment. Everybody is welcome to join the different activities commemorating this date. The “Ticos” (Costa Ricans) are world-wide recognized to be friendly and charming individuals and they will certainly appreciate your interest in the festivity.
Patriotic displays in Costa Rica come mainly in the form of parades that take place everywhere in the country and are organized by the local schools and high schools. This year Costa Rica will be celebrating officially 189 years of independence. Every single community in Costa Rica will be involved in the commemoration, which means that regardless where you are traveling in the country you can still have part in it.
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Monday, September 6th, 2010
José Antonio Lobo will be testifying in the ICE-Alcatel case after all, as he takes the stand in testimony against his former friend, ex-president Miguel Angel Rodriguez and others.
Lobo is expected to face the three judge panel on Tuesday (Sept 7) at 1:30pm where he is expected to give his testimony in favour of the prosecution in return for avoiding going to jail for his participation in the embezzlement and fraud against the state.
Lobo is not only the star witness for the Ministerio Público, but also the last witness to testify for the prosecution.
His testimony was saved for last as the court dealt with appeals from the defense against his testifying, alledging that he should also be tried with the other accused.
The Lobo testimony phase of the trial is expected to take about two weeks.
Former president Rodriguez (1998 – 2002) and others are accused of taking bribes from the French telecommunications firm Alcatel in return for obtaining the multi million dollar contract to install 400.000 GSM lines in Costa Rica for the Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE).
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Monday, September 6th, 2010
Without any surprises, the proposed changes by the ministerio de Obras Públicas y Transportes (MOPT) to the drunk driving provisions in the text of the reforms to the new Ley de Tránsito (traffic law), has been met with controversy.
Francisco Jiménez, the MOPT minister, earlier this week detailed the proposed changes to the traffic laws that, in addition to lowering fines and adjusting the point system, aims to get tougher on drunk drivers.
The drunk driving provisions of the current law that went into effect in December 2008 punishes any driver caught with a blood alcohol content of 0.75 with jail.
The changes, if adopted by the Legislative commission and approved by the Legislature Assembly, would set the limit to 0.50.
However, a number of legislators from various political parties and interest group advocate a zero tolerance policy.
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Monday, September 6th, 2010
The Sala Constitucional (Constitutional Court) is prohibiting the Ministerio de Seguridad Pública to use roadblocks in its efforts to reduce crime, unless there is “verified evidence” of the commission of a crime.
Roadblocks, checkpoints or spotchecks – whatever name you want to give them – have been used by ministerio Seguridad Pública to curb crime. The preventive measure has meant police blocking indiscriminately roads to check for weapons and drugs and the identity of the driver and passengers.
The checkpoints are at random and various hours of the day or night, while in some cases the checkpoints were permanent like the operative in front of Multiplaza last month.
The court decision follows a “recurso amparo” (appeal) by Juan José Rímolo Bolaños who says police blocked off all passage in San Antonio de Escazú, where everyone was ordered out of their vehicle and checked for drugs and firearms.
Bolaños, a lawyer, said in his filing that he was on his way to pick up his daughter from school and felt outraged because this (checkpoint) is not a legal procedure in Costa Rica.
The lawyer said that, with rifle in hand, the police official in a threatening manner, told him he would seek a warrant if he (Bolaños) would not allow them to search his vehicle.
“They acted against the law. The searches are not a legitimate preventive tool. I had the right to free movement”, the lawyer told the daily La Nación in an interview.
Bolaños said that authorities checked his cedula and was allowed to go only after he opened the glovebox and turned on the interior lights of his vehicle. “I was tired and did not want to spend all night arguing with them”, the lawyer said.
On Friday the Sala Consitucional order the ministro, José María Tijerino, to hold off on any further checkpoints unless there is probable cause of a crime.
The magistrates also ordered the state to pay costs and damages in the Bolaños case.
Speaking out against the court decision are Raul Rivera, regional chief of the Fuerza Pública and the viceministro de Seguridad Pública, Jorge Chavarría.
Chavarría said that the measures (checkpoints) have been an effort to guarantee security and though he is leaving his post this Friday, he fears that the decision will weaken the efforts of the police.
For his part, Rivera, said the decision contradicts decision of other courts, especially the Sala de Casación that said the police have the right to these actions (checkpoints) to minimize crime.
“It is better for a citizen to be stopped by police at the side of the road than a criminal”, Rivera said.
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