Tourist Police Officials
Suspected Of Theft of
Tourist
Three officials of the
Policía Turística
(tourist police) and one
official of the Fuerza
Pública (regular police)
were in handcuffs
yesterday accused of
stealing a video camera
from a tourist. The
theft occurred in acó de
Garabito, Puntarenas (Jacó
beach).
The Ministerio de
Seguridad Pública says,
following an
investigation, it has
identified the persons
responsible, three
police officials, Méndez
and Alpízar (attached to
the Turística police)
and Ulloa (an official
of the Fuerza Pública).
The investigation
centred on the break in
of a rented vehicle by
an Argentine tourist in
Playa Hermosa. The
victim filed a
complaint, saying three
men and a woman broke in
to the vehicle, losing
some us$1.800 and 250
Euros in cash and a
video camera.
The complaint was filed
with the Fuerza Pública
and later with the
Organismo de
Investigación Judicial (OIJ).
During the
investigation, police,
with the aid of
witnesses, were able to
located the suspects but
found no evidence of the
stolen merchandise. The
woman told police that
they had thrown the
camera out the window
into a ditch, but when
investigators went to
the site, the camera was
nowhere to be found.
Suspicion hung over
three police officials
when investigators
reviewed the police log
and found no entry of
the stolen video camera
and that the camera was
found shortly after the
investigation, the
officials alleging
confidential sources for
the tip locating the
stolen equipment.
Due to lack of evidence
the suspects were set
free though the Fiscalía
de Jacó has asked for
preventive detention
while the investigation
continues.
However, the
vice-minister de
Seguridad, Rafael Ángel
Gutiérrez, said by way
of the Seguridad press
office that the
suspected officials will
be submitted to a
internal review process. |
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