Security video captures violent attack on Dutch couple at Costa Rica hotel

Always keep a bucket of acid nearby, then tell the Keystone Cops (OIJ) to follow the smoke after you douse them

Obviously someone wants to buy an Eco Lodge cheap. It seems as if someone was intentionally trying to run them off.

The lack of interest in the video by OIJ is appalling.

Since Mr. Peters is accusing the OIJ of relative indifference to investigating the crime and apprehending the perpetrators–and IRC is reporting his complaints–I hope that you, Tim, will follow up on this story and tell us whether or not the OIJ is guilty as charged.

At issue here is the common complaint among expats that law enforcement is indifferent to their criminal victimization. Maybe this complaint is true, but when we always only hear it from the victims (and frankly victims in the US frequently complain about indifferent law enforcement there too) it’s only fair to follow up (and maybe ask the OIJ) to find out whether or to what extent this is true.

Plus, not to minimize this crime, were I an investigating officer with a full caseload, I could see how I might not prioritize it either. Mr. Peters claims it was attempted murder, and I would too if I were in his or his wife’s position, but it frankly looks more like the thugs were attempting to tie her up and keep her from screaming in order to rob the place. This is hardly good, but it is a common robbery strategy in Costa Rica and isn’t attempted murder. Since the guys were only armed with a knife and Ms. Peters, who resisted, only required a few stitches, I seriously doubt that an attempted murder charge would fly. We’re talking assault. Add though that the robbery attempt was foiled, so the only crime is assault. But then there’s the problem that the trio spent the night in the place. I am not saying that this is how it went down, but thinking like a defense attorney, I would raise questions about possible prior arguments between Ms. Peters and the guys, and if possible put one or more of the guys on the stand to testify that she provoked it. OK, odds are that’s utter baloney, but it’s a good defense. Throw in that the backpack with the robbery stuff was conveniently discovered by the victims after the fact–so they could have planted the robbery stuff–and were I an investigating officer, I’d have to admit that I didn’t have a super strong case. Realistically, apprehending these guys and running them through the courts might result in result in one or two or them getting like six months in the slammer (and I suspect that this is all the more severe it would be in Holland too), so the OIJ people may be right not to prioritize it.

However, just from the story, there seems enough there that I wouldn’t be comfortable with the OIJ ignoring it. I’d like to see some follow up by them, as well as news follow up to know whether or not they do. It may not be an especially serious crime from the standpoint of prosecution and punishment, but it’s definitely serious from the standpoint of the victims. And it shouldn’t be winked at.

Finally, to the Peters: Please reconsider leaving. I realize that this sucks, but you did survive. You can take more security precautions in the future and be fine. Part of being an expat is taking the bad with the good, and if the decent people leave, only the scoundrels will be left. Costa Rica needs people willing to take a stand against these lowlife Tico punks.

Shame, this is the 2nd time that the killers mistook the evil Dutchman.
They are actually searching for this crooked wanker who built homes on
top of the old town dump in Atenas. They are perhaps former home owners
who were tricked by this monster. We at IPA ( the international police agency)
have information that Ivo Henfling is responsible for these home sales
on top of the dump. ASSASSINS PLEASE NOTE*

Why do Costa Ricans hate the Dutch so much??