|
Man Chains Himself to Post
Saying He Was Scammed
Michael Lee Rouco, a 45 year old
American, living in Naranjo
chained himself to a light post
on Wednesday to protest that an
architect scammed him of
us$56.000 dollars.
Rouco took along a chair to sit
on when he got tired while being
chained to post in Naranjo's
central par. Naranjo is small
community northwest of San José.
It was about 9am when the man
decided to chain himself to the
post to bring attention of his
complaint against a man
identified as Herrera, who
according to Rouco, represented
himself as an architect to
design and build his house in
Berlín de Sam Ramon for a fee of
˘26 million colones, but instead
made off with the money.
Quickly a crowed gathered around
the man as the curious stood by
to watch was happening. Members
of the Fuerza Publica (police)
were dispatched to the scene as
well as the Cruz Roja (Red
Cross).
Following a dialouge between
police and Rouco, the police
officers dispatched to the scene
left and Rouco remained chained
to the post. Last report is that
Rouco is still there.
What Rouco wants, according to
the Fuerza Publica officers, is
that Herrera show his face and
admit his guilt.
Rouco talked to a reporter of
the Spanish language dialy
Diario Extra, telling the
reported that his nightmare
began when he signed a contract
with Herrera. "I am happy to be
living in Costa Rica among hard
working people. He was
recommended and inspired my
trust", Rouco told the reporter.
According to Rouco, Herrera told
him that he could use a bank
account help by Herrera to make
the deposit for the
construction, of which only 25%
of the house is built and took
off with the rest of the money
in the account.
"I won't leave until h (Herrera)
apologizes and finishes my
house", Rouco said.
Herrera being contacted by the
newspaper told his side of the
story, who assures that his
client is experiencing some kind
of mental breakdown. He said he
has all the documents, contracts
and receipts that prove the man
is lying and has offered to meet
the man in his office to go over
the bills, in the presence of
his (Herrera )lawyer
|
|
