Another Madam Arrested For
Prostitution of Young Girls
A Colombian woman whose last
name is Sánchez was detained
yesterday for prostitution of
minors in much the same way that
Sinaí MOnge, who is currently
trial, except that the 40 year
old Colombian used the internet
to promote girls as young as 14.
The woman was arrested in barrio
El Carmen de Paso Ancho, where
police arrested her while taking
photos of a young girl in sexy
clothing, later to be published
on her internet website.
Agents for the Unidad Contra la
Explotación Sexual (UCES)
surprised the woman with camera
in hand when the stormed her
apartment. The website would
promote young girls in scanty
clothing to foreigners and
locals alike. Police have not
released the name of the
website.
Ana Helena Chacón, Vice Minister
de Seguridad Pública, confirmed
that more than 50 young girls
appeared on the woman's website,
who some were as young as 14 and
offering their services for as
much as us$250 dollars.
Similarities between the
operation of the two women -
Sánchez and Sinaí - is both
women kept a list of customers
that frequent the young
prostitutes. Vice Minister
Chacon said that "we will use
wire tap and will not rest until
we put in jail the customers who
used the services of the young
girls. They could go to jail for
6 to 12 years."
"The young girls for the most
part are poor and come from poor
families, who would also bring
along her friends", added
Chacon.
The Colombian woman, according
to investigators, also used ads
in the local newspapers
advertising the services of a
'massage parlour'.
Neighbours in the residential
building were surprised at the
police intervention. One
neighbour who did not want to be
identified said "the lady lived
a normal live. Picked up her
children from school, all in a
normal way."
Ticos in Favour of Free Trade
Deal
Many Costa Ricans support their
country’s participation in the
Central American Free Trade
Agreement (CAFTA), according to
a poll by CID-Gallup. 56 per
cent of respondents are in
favour of the accord.
In December 2003, Costa Rica
temporarily opted out of
negotiations towards the
much-heralded CAFTA with the
United States. President Abel
Pacheco was unsure about
granting access to the country’s
telecommunications and insurance
industries to overseas
conglomerates. After the
breakdown in negotiations,
Pacheco declared that he would
not sign a deal "that pretended
to begin a process of
colonization."
The country finally agreed to
the treaty’s terms in February
2004. The trade pact must still
be ratified in the legislative
branches of each signatory. Last
March, Costa Rica agreed to a
separate trade accord with the
Caribbean Community (Caricom).
Last month, two high-profile
public servants - director of
commercial negotiations Irene
Arguedas and general trade
director Fernando Ocampo - quit
their respective posts over
disagreements with trade
minister Manuel González.
Polling Data
Are you in favour or
against the Central American
Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA)?
|
Strongly in
favour: |
23% |
|
In favour: |
33% |
|
Strongly
Against: |
16% |
|
Against: |
14% |
Source: CID-Gallup
Methodology: Interviews to
1,218 Costa Rican adults,
conducted from Feb. 2 to Feb.
10, 2005. Margin of error is 3
per cent.
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Coalition sought
In view of the fragmentation
of political parties for the
next Presidential Election,
in February 2006, a group of
ladies sought and obtained
the support of a large
number of former members of
different parties who have
also held important public
posts in order to promote a
coalition.
The former politicians
agreed that the coalition
should be one focused on a
"social state for
development".
A former president of the
Social Security System, Dr.
Guido Miranda, said that
they plan to draft a plan
for an eventual government,
that they are open to
suggestions from all
sectors, and that the
coalition's presidential
candidate would be elected
in an open convention.
Rosario Incer, a
spokesperson for the group
of ladies who promoted the
idea, said that they were
prompted to take this course
of action when witnessing
the fragmentation of
political parties, which is
so vast that 43 groups would
take part in the coming
race, unless a coalition is
established.
Cash Laundering Ring Busted
In a joint operation, Costa
Rican law enforcement
agencies and the U.S. Drug
Enforcement Agency busted a
ring that dedicated to
laundering cash.
The money - from drug
trafficking - came from
Colombia.
At least one woman is known
to have made many trips from
Colombia, bringing $60,000
to $80,000 cash each time,
which he did not declare
upon arrival, as it is by
law established for any
amount above $10,000.
Once here, the money was
transferred to the accounts
of a local company which, in
turn, issued checks that
were used to buy stock in
the United States.
Four Costa Ricans were
arrested for their
involvement in the ring.
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