Mel's Rebuffs Kidnap
Fear
MAD Max star Mel Gibson
was put on kidnap alert
yesterday over his new
home in Costa Rica. The
actor plans to move his
wife Robyn and their
seven children to the
ranch west of San José.
And he seems determined
to ignore official US
government warnings that
the area is prime bandit
country.
A State Department
briefing claims all
American visitors are
“potential targets for
criminals and
kidnappers” and should
never travel alone.
It adds: “Local law
enforcement agencies
have limited
capabilities and do not
operate according to US
standards.”
And an American consular
official said: “All US
citizens should exercise
extreme caution.”
But Mel, 51, has already
upset locals. The
previous owner employed
13 staff who rented
houses on the estate.
And they fear losing
their jobs if he shuts
down farming operations
on the 402-acre spread.
Mel has already
indicated he plans to
use it for movie
location shoots.
A business source close
to the actor said: “Most
locals are enthusiastic
about their wealthy new
neighbour but others are
very worried about their
livelihoods.
“He will need intense
security for his family
in an area where urban
and tourist development
is minimal and most of
the inhabitants are
poorly-paid farmers
“Unless they are closely
guarded, Mel’s family
could find themselves
prime targets for
bandits and thieves in
an area where help will
be a very long way
away.”
Mel’s ranch spans a
densely-wooded,
mountainous area in
Guanacaste province on
Costa Rica’s northern
Pacific coast.
He has sold a Malibu
property and has
also put his estate in
Mianus, Connecticut, on
the market to help
finance the deal.
But it is likely the
biggest opposition to
the Costa Rica move
could be closer to home.
A friend of Mel’s said:
“The area where he’s
chosen to live is
hundreds of miles from
real civilization.
“His wife Robyn is not,
to put it mildly, as
keen as he is on going
there.”
She is still reeling
after her husband was
sentenced to three
years’ probation for
drink-driving after
being pictured in a bar
with two blondes.
A magazine quoted a
source close to Mel as
saying: “Robyn has
endured one humiliation
after another. "But
moving to Costa Rica may
be the last straw. She
wants no part of it.” |
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