Prosecutor's
Case against Villalobos weakening!
San
Jose, January 22, 2003
By:
Hank
Prosecutor's
Case against Villalobos is weakening and
two other Investment Operations paying
interest.
Today,
representatives of a large organized group
of Villalobos Investors, met with
Government Officials and with a
spokesperson of the Law Firm representing
Enrique and Osvaldo Villalobos.
J. Duke
Moseley and others met with the head
of OIJ's Anti Drug Task Force and with
Luis Alonso Bonilla, a prosecutor
assisting with this case.
The intent was
to meet with the main prosecutor, lic.
Walter Espinoza, but the group was told
that Mr. Espinoza is on a thirty day
leave. Reasons for his absence were
given as "personal" by an OIJ
staff member.
The Anti Drug
Task Force Chief told Duke Moseley and the
other representatives that he had been
investigating Enrique Villalobos for 1 1/2
years and was told by the prosecutor to
conduct the raids of July 4th of last
year.
He stated that
this was the first time in his nearly
29 year career that no arrests were
made during a raid which had been ordered
because of suspected money laundering. He
assumed that because of the prosecutor's
office lack of evidence, the inquiry from
the Royal Canadian Mounted Police was used
as the sole reason to conduct this
operation.
According to statements
made to the Investors'
Representatives, the legal firm
representing Enrique and Osvaldo
Villalobos commented that the prosecutor's
office has now abandoned their money
laundering theory due to the absence of
evidence. In addition, according to an
official statement made by SUGEF through a
paid advertisement in La Nacion last week,
absolutely no evidence has been uncovered
that would imply wrongdoing by any of the
Villalobos' Organizations.
When asked if
the SUGEF information had any bearing on
this matter, Duke Moseley and the other
representatives learned that this vital
conclusion had not been
"introduced" to the case files.
There was no explanation given for this
omission.Duke stated
that this was "a flagrant disregard
by a legal defense member who had
submitted this in writing".
"The
prosecutors case at this moment seems to
exists solely because of claims
filed by less than 10 percent of
investors, not against Villalobos, but as
a lien on their share of principal
invested", he added.The
prosecutor is now pursuing the possibility
that "Illegal Financial
Mediation" may have taken place.
When told
about this development, a spokesperson of
the law firm representing both Villalobos'
Brothers had the following to say.
According to
Duke Mosely, the spokesperson stated that
a "deal" was almost negotiated
between them and lic. Walter Espinoza less
than 5 weeks after the raid./
The main
points of this agreement were for Enrique
Villalobos to "close shop"
forever and pay off his creditors to the
best of his abilities, without the backing
of a normally operating business.
Additionally,
he would have to release files and
information about all investors to the
prosecutor. These would include personal
identification such as passport and ID
information, addresses and telephone
numbers, amounts invested, duration of
investment and interest payments
received.
According to
this spokesperson, at this point,
negotiations broke off.
"Mr.
Villalobos stated that he would not now,
or ever release information that was given
to him in confidence."
"As it
stands, this has been the reason for the
stalemate that we are in now", Duke
Moseley said .
"According
to Enrique's lawyers", Duke Moseley
said, "it is obvious that the
prosecutor is desperately grabbing for
straws, because there is no real case
here.
In a related
story, Inside Costa Rica has been
contacted by a handful of investors who
claim that they have received interest
payments from Costa Rica Green and The
Vault, two other high-yield financial
businesses in San Jose. These investors were
told by representatives from both
firms that they had received official
permission to continue to conduct their
business here.
Editor's
note:
All people
making these statements have names.
However, we were informed by the
Prosecutors office that we could be
considered accomplices and risk arrest, if
we were to withhold information from them.
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