Aug

26

Violence Causes Spotlight to Fall on Puerto Viejo

August 26, 2008 | Tags: Crime & Punishment | Leave a Comment

Self-proclaimed hitman, Gordo Malo
Self-proclaimed hitman, Gordo Malo. Photo by Nick Wilkinson courtesy of Tico Times

Continued violent crime in our community has caused even more negative media attention, and has the community talking about a provocative news article published in Costa Rica’s English language weekly, The Tico Times.

The latest incident claimed two persons in a fight which turned deadly on Aug 15 at Stanford’s Restaurant when the combatants started firing (see La Nación: Dos rivales fallecen en un intercambio de balas en bar). This event, like most of the dramatic headline crime events, involved criminal gang members fighting it out for control.

But the continued violent crime has also got local residents and tourists worried. Not least because of the still unresolved case of the rapist who was victimizing female tourists on Playa Chiquita. While there have been no more of those events reported recently, there have been no arrests made either.  Community leaders have called for the suspect to be held under preventative detention while the matter is investigated but to no avail. The suspect has apparently been under closer supervision from his family instead which may account for no more incidents.

The Tico Times featured Puerto Viejo in this week’s issue as their top story. The story, entitled Fear and Loathing in Puerto Viejo (original article here or archived here), has the community talking, not the least because the article accused local real estate agent Manuel Pinto of considering hiring a hit man, after his family was assaulted, a charge Pinto vehemently denies. “[The statement has] been completely taken out of context and is absolutely and unconditionally false,” says Pinto. He continues that “Despite our deep and extreme frustrations (the important theme of the article) with the legal system that has all but ignored us and in many cases aggravated our situations, we continue to use all legal options and avenues to resolve the threats made against us. This is a long and painful process – but one we are committed to and are fully engaged into.” You can read his full response here.

The article then goes on to interview a local self-proclaimed hit man Magno Enrique Beñavides, known as Gordo Malo, for his opinion on the violence.

Hopefully all the talk and attention on the situation will actually result in some substantive changes to the way the police and justice system operate.