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Another American low life in Costa Rica
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Author:  Estebanh [ Mon Nov 29, 2010 5:34 pm ]
Post subject:  Another American low life in Costa Rica
I am helping pass the word on this scumbag. If you can help out in anyway to stop this loser, Steven Allen Bucelato

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFJ0iErN0ME

http://www.ripoffreport.com/ORGANIZED-C ... -93b8d.htm
Author:  TimBones [ Mon Nov 29, 2010 6:48 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Another American low life in Costa Rica
OK, Just a few thoughts; I would say that regardless of your opinion of the police in CR, they will investigate. That would be the starting point. I would also use the U.S. Embassy to at least get pointed in the right direction, i.e, referred to a level high enough in the CR government so that someone will take notice. The SAIC or LEGAT would be the person to contact. Also, there are lots of NGOs that deal with crimes against women and the elderly. Their is also a CR government org called the National Institute for Women (INAMU) that might serve as a resource. These scumbags deserve to be denutted. :evil:

http://stopvaw.org/
Author:  DiegoC [ Mon Nov 29, 2010 10:40 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Another American low life in Costa Rica
Shocking! Do you know the Canadian who was on the video? I read about this but I cannot remember where – either The Tico Times, AM Costa Rica or Nacion. It seems to be a valid story.

One of the problems with the criminal legal system here in CR is that the Fuerza Publica has no investigative authority. They are not supposed to do much more than “keep the peace” which translates into “put a band-aid on the problem” and turn things over to the O.I.J. The O.I.J. is overwhelmed by the fast rising crime in this country.

The problem is exacerbated because the O.I.J. is under the control of the judges. The judiciary – legal scholars that they are - really look down their collective noses law enforcement. That is never so true as it is during budget time.

The Poder Judical gets funding from the national treasury. Then the judges allocate funds the way they believe is best, or the way they believe is best for them. With limited resources they take care of their own first. And the O.I.J. is not their own. The O.I.J. is the red-headed step Ch*ldren of the Poder Judicial.

As a consequence, the O.I.J. is starved for resources and training, that is largely the reason why Jorge Rojas, the director of O.I.J., threatened to resign a couple of years ago. His media blitz and personal popularity forced the judiciary to come around.

It is an incredibly inefficient and ineffective but it is so by design. The purpose is to diffuse power so much that CR cannot become controlled by the president (the executive branch) through the use of strong arm tactics by a secret police. There was a time about 100 years ago in CR when there was a secret police and they did all the things that secret police are order to do by the executive. If you think Gestapo you know what I am talking about.

Of the five traditional Central American nations, Costa Rica is the only one that has not had recent documented abuses by secret police and death squads. In addition, I cannot think of any South American country which, in the last 50-60 years, has not had secret police abuses and death squads. So there is a real and valid concern.

Back to the story at hand – the Fuerza Publica and the O.I.J. already know about this. Contacting Laura will have an impact but she is powerless to control the O.I.J. and they are the competent legal authority in the matter.

Besides that, there may not be too much interest on the part of the Poder Judicial as to what happens to an old Brit far removed from San Jose. Very tragic but quite possibly true.

Insular governments, in this case the Poder Judicial, tend to move only when outside public pressure is brought on them. International news reports have to play this around the world. The story has a British, Canadian and American side. Unfortunately the U.S. side is not all that attractive.

Any ideas? This is a wrong that needs to be righted.
Author:  TimBones [ Tue Nov 30, 2010 10:24 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Another American low life in Costa Rica
Quote:
Besides that, there may not be too much interest on the part of the Poder Judicial as to what happens to an old Brit far removed from San Jose. Very tragic but quite possibly true.


Sorry, I did not listen to the whole video (hearing about little old ladies getting raped I find disagreeable) Embassies can and do exert influence over the locals. If this women is a Brit, she should contact her embassy and they should exert some influence so that the OIJ will properly investigate.
Author:  Muadib [ Tue Nov 30, 2010 1:35 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Another American low life in Costa Rica
Or just hire a couple of thugs to throw the scumbag under a bus... When in Rome and all that, sometimes you have to take things into your own hands... The 'law of the land' prevails over the goody-goody two shoes western mentality in all cases in 3rd world countries...
Author:  TimBones [ Tue Nov 30, 2010 3:11 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Another American low life in Costa Rica
Muadib wrote:
Or just hire a couple of thugs to throw the scumbag under a bus... When in Rome and all that, sometimes you have to take things into your own hands... The 'law of the land' prevails over the goody-goody two shoes western mentality in all cases in 3rd world countries...


Hate to disagree with you, but I have seen a number of Americans locked up or beaten up abroad that felt the same way. The law of the jungle does not exist in Costa Rica, just an overburdened and underfunded legal system. Fact of the matter is that you should respect the rule of law if you expect others to do the same. Sorry, that's the social compact that is applicable in most civilized areas of the world. Goody Goody western mentality should be the standard, not an aberration. Break local law because that is the way to kick ass and take names, may get the desired return or may get you worse in return, such as getting locked up abroad. If you want to take things into your own hands, become a mercenary somewhere. :D
Author:  Estebanh [ Tue Nov 30, 2010 4:35 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Another American low life in Costa Rica
TimBones wrote:
Muadib wrote:
Or just hire a couple of thugs to throw the scumbag under a bus... When in Rome and all that, sometimes you have to take things into your own hands... The 'law of the land' prevails over the goody-goody two shoes western mentality in all cases in 3rd world countries...


Hate to disagree with you, but I have seen a number of Americans locked up or beaten up abroad that felt the same way. The law of the jungle does not exist in Costa Rica, just an overburdened and underfunded legal system. Fact of the matter is that you should respect the rule of law if you expect others to do the same. Sorry, that's the social compact that is applicable in most civilized areas of the world. Goody Goody western mentality should be the standard, not an aberration. Break local law because that is the way to kick ass and take names, may get the desired return or may get you worse in return, such as getting locked up abroad. If you want to take things into your own hands, become a mercenary somewhere. :D


I have to agree with Greengo. Costa Rica is only marginally better than Mexico, which is corrupt to its core.
Author:  Muadib [ Tue Nov 30, 2010 5:29 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Another American low life in Costa Rica
I agree that the rule of law should apply in cases such as this, but.... Sometimes, enough is enough... I am not advocating vigilantism, although it does make me a bit ill to hear the way this elderly British woman was treated by this scumbag and to then have nothing done aout it after reporting it to the police 6 times...

What do you think the police response would be had it been a Tica who was abused by a gringo? :wink:
Author:  TimBones [ Tue Nov 30, 2010 6:37 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Another American low life in Costa Rica
Ok, I agree that we would all like to throw one of these bastards into a pool full of hungry alligators; I posted this to the facebook page, however, perhaps someone can provide this info to the person in question?

http://ukincostarica.fco.gov.uk/en/help ... nationals/

Help for British Nationals
This page gives advice what help we can provide if you do get into difficulty. We offer help which is appropriate to the individual circumstances of each case, including:
issuing replacement passports;
providing information about transferring funds;
providing appropriate help if you have suffered rape or serious assault, are a victim of other crime, or are in hospital;
helping people with mental illness;
providing details of local lawyers, interpreters and doctors and funeral directors;
doing all we properly can to contact you within 24 hours of being told that you have been detained;
offering support and help in a range of other cases, such as Ch*ld abductions, death of relatives overseas, missing people and kidnapping;
contacting family or friends for you if you want; and
making special arrangements in cases of terrorism, civil disturbances or natural disasters
UK law says we have to charge for some services. Consulates display the current fees and the standards of service you can expect.


Complaints and bouquets about our services
The British Embassy is committed to serving you with courtesy and respect. If you have any complaint about the treatment you have received in any of our sections, please write to me at the following address:

Mr. Tom Kennedy
HM Ambassador
British Embassy
PO Box 815-1007
Centro Colon
San José, Costa Rica

Please mark the envelope and letter 'PERSONAL'. We aim to reply to your complaint within three working days whenever possible.

We also want to monitor and analise our bouquets about our Consular Services. Should you wish to send bouquets, please write to: feedback.consular.services@fco.gov.uk

We ask that you treat our staff with the same courtesy and respect that we are committed to serving you. We shall not deal with visitors who act aggressively or use offensive language.

Tom Kennedy

Tom Kennedy
HM Ambassador
British Embassy
San José
Author:  DiegoC [ Tue Nov 30, 2010 11:11 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Another American low life in Costa Rica
Send an email to AM Costa Rica and The Tico Times asking what is happening on this case. When the news media pokes its nose into something, it can make bureaucrats do something.
Author:  Thirdworld [ Wed Dec 01, 2010 10:40 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Another American low life in Costa Rica
Anyone who thinks there is any law and protection here, I have some nice property under a bridge in Jaco! But, who gives a Phuck? In Nicaragua now and hopefully will not be stuck in Costa Rica on a permanent basis for much longer. Spare me the danger lecture on Nica land. Heard it all before and have been here multiple times. A lot of the BS is straight propaganda. As for the lady, she just don't have the right friends. Whether anybody likes it or not, that is how things get taking care of here. For the good, or for the bad. No offense, but this board is no reflection of actually living in CR and a lot of the ideas are so idealistic.
Author:  MrLasVegas [ Thu Dec 02, 2010 2:04 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Another American low life in Costa Rica
I second the throwing under the bus by thugs idea. That is how the the locals would do it. The rule of law you are describing, Tim bones, seems logical to well meaning westerners, but completely without merit. Any experienced expat will tell you that their is the supposed moral, rule of law high road, which gets you absolutely NOWHERE. Then their is the local way which involves subtle bribes, relationships, networking, etc. that takes the place of "rule of law" at times most opportune. The second way works, the first makes you look like an even bigger outsider.
Author:  TimBones [ Thu Dec 02, 2010 10:32 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Another American low life in Costa Rica
MrLasVegas wrote:
I second the throwing under the bus by thugs idea. That is how the the locals would do it. The rule of law you are describing, Tim bones, seems logical to well meaning westerners, but completely without merit. Any experienced expat will tell you that their is the supposed moral, rule of law high road, which gets you absolutely NOWHERE. Then their is the local way which involves subtle bribes, relationships, networking, etc. that takes the place of "rule of law" at times most opportune. The second way works, the first makes you look like an even bigger outsider.


OK, I was going to let TW's comment pass, but I guess I will have to respond since some other "Experienced Expat" needs to weigh in;

By all means, Please go ahead and hire some thugs to throw these punks under the bus. Are you going to be the Point of Contact for hiring these thugs as I would like to contribute? :roll: :roll: :roll: Maybe you should talk to the guy who thought it was a good idea to hire street people in SJ to act as his security, he could probably refer you to someone. :roll: :roll:

Only about 25 years of living and working overseas in Colombia, Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala has really done nothing to open my eyes to the way things are done in LA. I still believe in the Easter Bunny and Santa Claus. :lol:

How many of you Rambos actually have any experience dealing with the police in CR or any other third world countries on any type of official or semi-official level? Getting pulled over for driving while being gringo doesn't qualify. :?: :?: Any of you "Experienced Expats" ever worked in an embassy or worked with anyone from an embassy while in C.R.? (renewing your passport doesn't count). Please feel free to regale me with all your experience bribing the transito not to take you in for being over the limit and I will respond with, oh, I don't know, walking into the office of the head of the federal investigative service in Bogota to coordinate the seizure of counterfeit products and factories in Cali. Perhaps, if only I had coordinated it through my hotel room maid's nephew it would have gone smoother. :P :P

Even a mid level official in the U.S. Embassy has high level direct contacts with the CR government; it would be exactly the same at the Brit Embassy. Now, who do you believe would garner more influence, the "well connected friend" that you have through your housemaid's cousin, who happened to work for the Fuerzas Publicas at one time or the Legal Attaché at either the Brit or U.S. Embassy who can pick up his phone, call the number 1 or 2 guy at the OIJ and ask him to look into something? :) Please feel free to tell me about all your experiences being the Latin version of Buford Puser. :lol: :lol:
Author:  Thirdworld [ Thu Dec 02, 2010 10:45 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Another American low life in Costa Rica
TimBones, I love your posts, I really do. You contribute lots of interesting points of view. But the fact that there is no law here, especially at the beach, is a fact. Things get done, people don't talk about it. It is a reality and it happens. More than ever gets written about. I've witnessed 11 years of people calling the police for various reasons, and I have yet to see them actually settle an issue. Now for me, that is why I stay to myself and don't go out much. Don't have any inclinations to get into bad situations.
Author:  TimBones [ Thu Dec 02, 2010 10:52 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Another American low life in Costa Rica
Thirdworld wrote:
TimBones, I love your posts, I really do. You contribute lots of interesting points of view. But the fact that there is no law here, especially at the beach, is a fact. Things get done, people don't talk about it. It is a reality and it happens. More than ever gets written about. I've witnessed 11 years of people calling the police for various reasons, and I have yet to see them actually settle an issue. Now for me, that is why I stay to myself and don't go out much. Don't have any inclinations to get into bad situations.



That's fine. I was suggesting a way to get things done lawfully in the case of a little old Brit lady who is a crime victim and stated that one "lawful" way to get things done is to work thru the embassy, which is a very effective way to get things done if you have good contacts there. The smaller the embassy and expat group, the better the service you will receive, but they absolutely have to at least speak with one of their citizens overseas. I think I have stated my case and will stand by what I have already said. :D
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