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After Liberty Reserve, Costa Rica considers reforms to allow extradition of citizens

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Sala IV / Supreme Court

May 30th, 2013 (InsideCostaRica.com) The Government of Costa Rica announced yesterday that a measure allowing the extradition of Costa Rican citizens would be presented to the Legislature.  The move comes a day after U.S. authorities indicted the operators of Costa Rica–based Liberty Reserve on charges of operating the largest money laundering operation in history.  The company was founded by an American citizen who acquired Costa Rican citizenship, allegedly through a bogus marriage to a Costa Rican citizen. 

 

Security Minister, Mario Zamora, said yesterday that a bill would soon be presented to the Legislature, which would allow the extradition of Costa Rican nationals linked to organized crime.

 

The Costa Rican Constitution currently prohibits the extradition of Costa Rican citizens.

 

The move is a “concrete sign, not only for Costa Ricans, but for foreigners seeking Costa Rican nationality in order to evade justice in their country,” Zamora said.

 

Zamora made the remarks during a meeting on joint security efforts with U.S. ambassador to Costa Rica, Anne Andrew.

 

Arthur Budovsky, the founder and head of Liberty Reserve, was arrested by Spanish authorities last week as he was attempting to board a return flight to Costa Rica. He was arrested along with a Moroccan man, Azzeddine El Amine, considered the “number two” of the company.

 

Under Costa Rica’s current constitutional law, authorities would not have been able to extradite Budovsky, who had obtained Costa Rican citizenship, had he successfully made his way back to Costa Rica.

 

Budovsky apparently obtained Costa Rican citizenship after paying a Costa Rican woman he had never met $600 to marry him.

 

Permitting the extradition of Costa Rican citizens would require changes to the country’s Constitution, a process which could prove to be lengthy.

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  • http://www.csi-8.com/ Costa Rica Fraud Investigator

    This change will be welcomed by International Fraud Investigators! Specifically, there are several individuals here in Costa Rica that we intend to charge with Wire Fraud and having the ability to extradite them to the US to face these charges would be a solid demonstration by the Costa Rica Government that, as a country, it is ready to be globally responsible. Furthermore, Costa Rica is rapidly gaining a reputation as a place where there is “no justice for Fraud and corruption”. When you look at the drop in tourism, investor interest, and land acquisition deals – it all points to the countries lack of enforcement.

    Fraudsters and con artists hiding behind Costa Rica’s “no extradition policy” only serves to encourage international corruption by it’s own publicized inability to police it’s own society. The founder of Liberty Reserve selected Costa Rica as a “safe haven” where, once he obtained citizenship, would provide a safety zone for his criminal activity. Fortunately, the US Justice Department was able to monitor the travels of the Liberty Reserve principals outside of Costa Rica and execute an arrest in Spain.

    The solution is for Costa Rica to modify its laws to protect the international community – which will likely be rewarded with the return of tourism and significant investments in Costa Rica. Protecting criminals is a formula for a corrupt society – and the only people that benefit from corruption are the criminals!

    More information on Liberty Reserve is available at http://www.csi-8.com/costa-rica-fraud-reporter/

    • datbrotherfromthestates

      I understand the need to prosecute people for international crimes. but AMERICA’s own system of justice is an APARTHEID BASED SYSTEM OF JUSTICE!
      the costa ricans should vote against this simply to protect its own citizens from america’s sham of a judicial system. what america will simply do is to knowingly and willingly break the law themselves and conjur up some phony rico or organized crime charge simply to have some one extradicted from costa rica,only to then DROP that charge then charge them with another crime.
      just take a look at how HOLDER HIMSELF has broken the law with reckless abandon since he took office. Obama has no respect for the rule of law either,he thinks he IS the law! america’s apartheid based judicial system changes just like the winds in Chicago!
      VOTE NO COSTA RICA!! PROTECT YOUR CITIZENS FROM THE TYRANNY OF THE AMERICAN JUDICIAL SYSTEM!!

      • http://www.csi-8.com/ Costa Rica Fraud Investigator

        You obviously have experience as a criminal. Perhaps your initials are P.A.C. from New York?

      • http://www.csi-8.com/ Costa Rica Fraud Investigator

        Let me clear up a few points here. You are commenting on the assumption that Costa Rica is not, itself, riddled with crime and corruption, especially in the political arena. With power follows corruption…this is the human element of greed that infects every society.

        I do not argue the point that the USA has serious issues with corruption. But whose side are you on anyway? The criminals? Your argument basically follows the rule that – we need to allow criminals to operate here in Costa Rica, and protect them from the evil powers of the International Police Community. Would you have Arthur and his Liberty Reserve associates protected under Costa Rica Law? Allow them to stay here and hide behind the Government?

        I investigate fraud for a living, been doing it for 30+ years. You have no idea how important this law is to Costa Rica, its reputation, its economy, and its ability to secure cooperation from the international community.

        Who cares about Obama? This is about fighting crime, period.

  • Patrick Smyth

    Wonder what was promised/threatened by the US government…

  • Aitor Xaranga

    This will work for naturalized citizens, of that I am positive. However, I’ll believe it when I see the first CR -born citizen extradited for a crime…Ha!

    • datbrotherfromthestates

      COSTA RICA SHOULD VOTE NO ON THIS!!

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