Today's Stories: 'Baker' Arrested for Sexual Abuse of Minors Costa Rica's Health Crisis Costa Rican Constitutional Court Rules Customs Violating Constitution China's President, Premier to Visit Central America Sportsbook Denies Financial Hardship News Briefs

Costa Rica's head coach Steve Sampson (second from right) walks with his players underneath a Cuban flag at the Pedro Marrero stadium in Havana on Friday. The Costa Rican team will face Cuba in a first round qualifying match for the World Cup on today. [Foto: REUTERS/Claudia Daut]

The report said that the special police unit received an anonymous tip a couple of months back, that the man was accustomed to bringing young girls back to his residency which was at the back of the bakery. Police said that they believed the informant was serious and began an investigation.

During the raid, police confiscated fotos and pornographic material, according to Vice Minister, Ana Helena Chacón.

According to the report, the man identified only by his last name Jiménez, lived alone, though several employees rented rooms in his home, who were surprised by the early morning raid.

Investigators say the interviewed about 10  girls who were all under the age of 14, who say the man paid them between ¢1.500 and ¢2.000 colones. Some he offered jobs to at his bakery so that they would bring other young girls and then threatened to fire them to maintain their silence.

The man operated the bakery for several years at the same location and according to police had a criminal history, though no details were disclosed.

The Juzgado Penal de San José (criminal court) ordered the man to three months preventative detention while police continue with their investigation on charges of having 'paid' sexual relations with a minor.

Article 160 of the Penal Code sets out a maximum sentence of eight years in prison for abusing a minor and from twelve to fifteen years in prison if there is sexual contact. Another four to ten years can added if the minor is under the age of twelve.

More than 100 persons have been detained in the last three years in a 'war' against the sexual exploitation of minors. According to information provided by the Ministerio de Seguridad Pública, some 37 have already been convicted and are serving time, while another 60 are awaiting trial.

La Fuerza Publica has dedicated 20 specialized officers to handle investigations of sexual exploitation of minors, who are spread out in different areas of the country.
This special police unit is made of men and women, who work undercover. In addition to the specialized personnel, more than 1.100 officers of the Fuerza Publica have received training in matters of sexual exploitation.

Officials say that "sexual predators" don't have space within our borders. And police will be hitting harder each time to combat this type of crime.
 

Costa Rica's Health Crisis
Allegations of irregularities detected in the purchases of equipment and medications have landed the Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social (CCSS) - Costa Rican social security -  in the middle of a brewing crisis.

The  CCSS, is being investigated by a special commission which will attempt to determine the truth of the matter and despite the government's quick action in establishing the commission some analysts fear that the country's health system is heading for a crisis.

Costa Rica's social security program is probably the most prestigious of Costa Rica's institutions and the best in the entire hemisphere, as it equitably covers one hundred percent of the country's population.

Analyst Jorge Nowalski in his book "Economic, Labor and Social asymmetries in Central America" notes that only Panama approaches Costa Rica's proportion of coverage with 80 percent of its people enrolled in the national social security program.

According to Nowalski, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala cover barely 50 percent of their citizens.

The CCSS alleged irregularities became public on April 21.

The scandal's first casualty was CCSS executive president Eliseo Vargas, who resigned following reports in the press that he rents out a residence to a former financial manager of the Fischel Corporation, a major supplier of CCSS. In 2002 the Fischel Corporation sold $532,950 worth of medications to the CCSS; in 2003 the CCSS purchased $987,788 of supplies from Fischel. The massive increase in purchases from one year to the other aroused the suspicions of governmental investigators. Further irregularities were subsequently noticed in CCSS purchases of medical equipment worth $39.5 million in money diverted from the Spanish and Finnish foreign loans.

For former Legislative Deputy for the Partido Integración Nacional (PIN), Walter Muñoz, the accusations have only recycled irregularities that a legislative commission initially uncovered in 2001.

According to Muñoz, the problems of social security funding are not limited to irregular purchases of equipment and medications, Muñoz noted: "In addressing the program's main problems we had proposed corresponding solutions, keeping in mind the quality and professionalism of the services, the waiting time of patients and the freedom of medical choice which the insured must have. But we never received any answer from the government to our suggestions for reform."

Muñoz charged that the CCSS repeatedly makes purchases of services that make no sense, acidly commenting, "Those funds could be used to acquire equipment that could save the institution a lot of money."

Muñoz noted that the CCSS's present situation is the result of a growing backlog of 20 years of problems primarily caused by the lack of improving the quality of the program's service administration. Muñoz said that if remedial steps are not taken soon it the system could collapse. Muñoz maintained that the only option is to de-politicize the CCSS and alter the appointment procedure for its authorities. Muñoz recommends that the system be changed from its current practice of four-year appointments to hiring based on competition, to maintain the institute's goals.

Muñoz added that if measures are not taken to improve the program it will boost the arguments of certain groups in the country who are promoting an alternative private practice health care system. Muñoz observed: "The problems of the CCSS did not begin under the current administration. What is happening now is the result of problems that have been accumulating for years. These must be resolved by national discussions before it is too late." When asked about the special commission set up by President Abel Pacheco to investigate the irregularities, Muñoz noted that a report analyzing the situation and recommending solutions is already in the hands of the Legislative Assembly.

President Abel Pacheco observed: "The CCSS's board of directors gave me a long explanation of everything. My duty is to doubt. I am not here to believe in anything without concrete proof. My duty is to defend the Republic and the CCSS as an institution." Pacheco's commission's work is running parallel to the investigations begun by the Public Ministry in December 2003.

Analysts sat the situation is serious, but maintain that the country cannot allow itself to think that the shoddy performance of a few corrupt officials can jeopardize the quality of the entire Costa Rican social security program.

Costa Rican Constitutional Court Rules Customs Violating Constitution
"'Ruling based on official cases filed by PRETOMA  against Customs and Fishery Department (INCOPESCA)"

CASE #1: On May 31, 2003 Costa Rican Coast Guard officials witnessed a Taiwanese vessel, Guida U Ruey I, flying a Panamanian flag of convenience, landing 30 tons of shark fins at a private dock in Puntarenas in violation of an INCOPESCA ban on landing shark fins. Given the private nature of the dock, the Coast Guard officials could not take action. The fins were quickly transported to an unknown location in three container trucks.

CASE #2: On July 31, 2003, the Taiwanese vessel, Ho Tsai Fa #18 was reported landing shark fins at a private dock in Puntarenas in violation of the same INCOPESCA ban on landing shark fins. Coast Guard officials sought a warrant to enter the dock, but strangely, INCOPESCA hindered the granting of the warrant, claiming that no irregularities were occurring. Film footage shows dock workers processing shark fins next to the vessel in the early morning hours at the private dock.

PRETOMA filed official denouncements on both cases at the Customs Police alleging that INCOPESCA fails to enforce its own regulations and that Customs fails to inspect products landed at private docks.

In relation to both cases PRETOMA pointed out that Costa Rican Customs Law clearly states that private docks must receive a special permit and be declared in the public interest in order to receive landings by foreign vessels.

No private docks in Costa Rica have thus far obtained such a permit. Oddly, all foreign shark fishing vessels are allowed by Customs and INCOPESCA to land at the private docks.

After months of no concrete response on either case, on September 9, 2003, PRETOMA filed at the Customs Police calling for a precautionary measure to be implemented. PRETOMA specifically called for a halt on landings by foreign vessels at private docks until such landings are clearly authorized by Costa Rican law.

Due to administrative silence and an apparent reluctance to apply a precautionary measure, PRETOMA then filed at the Constitutional Court.

PRETOMA alleged that both INCOPESCA and Customs were violating article 50 of the Costa Rican Constitution -- which grants all Costa Ricans the right to a healthy environment and ecologically balanced ecosystems -- by allowing shark fins to be landed without effective government controls.

The practice of shark finning is known worldwide to be a wasteful and unsustainable practice causing severe declines in shark populations, up to 99% in some areas, endangering these species which play a vital role in ocean ecosystems. PRETOMA studies show shark population declines of 60% in the last 10 years in Costa Rican waters and Costa Rican fisherman report the same.

On May 24, 2004 the Court ruled that Customs was both violating article 50 of the Constitution and was taking an unjustifiable amount of time to resolve the denouncements planted by PRETOMA.

Subsequently, the Court ordered Customs to resolve PRETOMA's case by June 4, 2004. As of today, Customs has still not notified PRETOMA of a resolution clearly violating the Court Ruling.

"The only effective precautionary measure is to halt the landings of foreign vessels at private docks until they apply for permits and are deemed in the public interest like the law demands," said Randall Arauz, President of PRETOMA.

"This simple action will improve controls and it won't even slow commerce in Puntarenas because there is a public dock completely authorized to receive these vessels.

The only people who would be affected by this action are those who are taking advantage of lack of controls in order to land shark fins, evade taxes and subsequently harm the public interest. Halting foreign landings at private docks until these docks are authorized is simply the only logical and effective measure that exists."

PRETOMA is a Costa Rican non-profit, non-governmental, marine conservation organization that works to promote responsible fisheries and protect sea turtles, sharks and marine biodiversity.

China's President, Premier to Visit Central America
China's President, Chen Shui-bian and Premier Yu Shyi-kun will visit Central America and the Caribbean in the near future to boost the Republic of China's relations with its allies in the two regions, Vice President Annette Lu said yesterday.

Lu made the remarks at a news conference at the Chinese presidential office on the achievements of her just-concluded 14-day diplomatic tour that took her to El Salvador, Costa Rica and Guatemala in addition to two American cities - Las Vegas and San Francisco - for transit stops.

Lu noted that the Republic of China (ROC) has 13 diplomatic allies in Central America and the Caribbean. "This time I visited only three of those countries. President Chen and Premier Yu will visit our other allies in the two regions in the not-too-distant future," she added.

Describing her fruitful visit as the result of a "diplomatic symphony orchestra," Lu said she just played the role of conductor. "I'm grateful for the devoted services of our diplomatic staff and the members of my entourage. Their concerted efforts helped make the journey a great success."

Nevertheless, Lu said she feels that some of the Taiwanese diplomats stationed in the three Central American countries are not qualified to do their jobs. "I'll advise Foreign Affairs Minister Tan Sun Chen to designate an ambassador-at-large versed in the Spanish language and Latin American affairs to strengthen supervision of diplomatic work there," she said.

Lu again called for a new vision and new perspective for the development of relations across the Taiwan Strait. She urged Taiwan businessmen to follow the prevailing trend of globalization in establishing their business empires or footholds.

"Taiwan businessmen should look east toward the Pacific Ocean instead of looking west toward mainland China. There are many other good overseas investment destinations outside the Chinese mainland, " Lu said.

During her visit to El Salvador, Lu said, she urged the Salvadoran government to designate a large piece of land for Taiwan investors. Lu said she will encourage Taiwan entrepreneurs to invest in the farming and agricultural processing industries in El Salvador.

In addition, Lu went on, Taiwan can assist Costa Rica in digitalization and cooperate with Guatemala in restoring its cultural and historic relics.

Lu said she will launch a new publicity campaign to help local people better understand the Central American allies' culture, history and general political and social situations, including encouraging local college students to forge friendships via mail with their Central American counterparts, inviting performing arts groups to perform in Taiwan, encouraging local travel agencies to organize package tours to those countries and urging local people to sponsor children from impoverished families in the region.

She also noted that 50 percent of lawmakers and 40 percent of Cabinet members in Costa Rica are female. "I plan to organize a delegation of local female politicians and business executives to visit Costa Rica to see for themselves Costa Rica's achievements in promoting gender equality in political and other fields," she said.

Sportsbook Denies Financial Hardship
Costa Rica-based sportsbook Cascade denies it's having any business problems after rumors began circulating that it was having difficulty paying its players.

Reports on a number of popular posting forums say Cascade is in financial turmoil and players have struggled to collect their funds. The Offshore Wire, a watchdog site, reported one player had a payout denied even when he offered to forfeit his bonus and allow fees to be charged.

"They have been low on NETeller funds for at least the last five days," wrote one player under the pseudonym "gamblingshark" on one well-known posting forum. "No payments were allowed to go out via NETeller over the weekend and I've had to break up my payout into three allotments, two of which already came in on two different days and declined on the third allotment even though it went through the request system."

But Lenny Ross, manager at Cascade, said the delay wasn't because the company didn't have the funds. Instead, he suggests it was more a case of impatience, especially on the part of one player.

"One guy who started a post got like $20,000 in NETeller this week," said Ross. "I think he had to wait like a day because we had to send NETeller some more money. I mean, when you run out (of money), you run out.

"There was a one or two-day stretch where we had to reload with NETeller, where we had to send them a bank wire, but everyone that's requested (a payout) has got their money."

Ross said Cascade offered the man a different payment option but he declined. He also added that one player requested a payout along with a bonus before he had met the book's rollover requirements.

"He deposited some money, asked for a bonus," Ross said. "We told him we'd give him a 10 percent bonus, but he had to put so much (money) in action and he didn't."

Meanwhile, Sportsbook Review, a popular watchdog site, has dropped Cascade's review rating from a B- to a C.

The Offshore Wire recommends that Cascade players enroll in the bailout program operated by the Secure Gaming Alliance, which insures players' accounts for up to $3,500
 

News Briefs

• Monday, June 14, is World Blood Donor Day a special day dedicated to celebrating and thanking the more than 48.000 who donated blood in the past year. It is estimated that each year there are some 3.500 less blood donors. Thousandd of people owe their lives to people they will never meet – people who donate their blood freely and without any reward. Costa Rica has 26 blood banks where a person can donate once every three months. La Plaza de la Cultura will be centre of activity where information about donating blood as well as a blood bank will be staffed by the Red Cross.
   
• A mid-day robbery of the Agora catalog shop netted three men wearing ski masks and brandishing an AK-47 rifle and 9 millimeter handguns some 3.000.000 colones, Friday afternoon on Paseo Colon, near the Sabana park. Some 30 people between customers and employees were in the store at the time, where in a matter of minutes the men took their loot and disappeared in a waiting car. Several people were suffered minor injuries. The assailants are supected to be Colombian nationals from their accent.