The transit authority was out establishing checkpoints throughout the city this weekend and stopped vehicles in search of drunk drivers. 

The Ministerio de Obras Publicas y Transporte was out with more manpower than usual this weekend because of the heightened fear of drunk driving due to the Costa Rica and Paraguay soccer match held in Alajuela, according to Elvis Monge of the Cartago transit authority.

The checkpoints are a common occurrence but this weekend the nearly 100 transit officers stopping motorists from San Pedro to Central San José to Escazú made this weekend’s checks a larger operation than most, according to Monge.

The transit authority handed out tickets of 10,000 colons and 20,000 colons ($26 to $52) depending on the level of intoxication. A breathalizer test revealing a driver to have a blood-alcohol content level over .1 resulted in the higher fine and also their car impounded. The 10,000 colons fines 

Monge confiscated the first vehicle of the night within the first two minutes of setting up the checkpoint in San Rafael de Escazú, he said.

Chervin Dellanoche was that person. He said he was on his way from a party in San Pedro to his home. He refused to comment on exactly how much he drank but said it was, "too much."

"Pura vida," Dellanoche said of the situation. The loss of his car did not seem to dampen his mood. Monge said he can retrieve his car from the transit authority sometime next week.

The government does not usually keep the car of a drunk driver in Costa Rica, according to Monge. In the United States some states have laws that automatically confiscate the car of a drunken driver indefinitely.

Officers at the checkpoint in San Rafael de Escazú were on place to hand out more than 150 fines that night, Monge said.

A Costa Rican of U.S. parentage and a North American were arrested Wednesday on charges related to drugs, according to the Judicial Investigating Organization.

After receiving an anonymous tip-off authorities began investigating a San Antonio de Escazú location where one of the men supposedly operated, said the organization. Furthermore, authorities purchased small amounts of marijuana from one of the accused men during the course of the investigation.

After the last purchase by authorities, which occurred in the presence of the Juez Penal de Pavas, the Costa Rican, Patrick William Salom Rodriguez, was arrested, said the organization.

At the scene authorities found drug paraphernalia, such as bags to divide the drugs into smaller selling units, that indicate the selling of drugs, said the organization. 

The organization said at the same time and location a 54-year-old North American, identified as Stanley Earl Burns, was found in possession of approximately one ounce of marijuana.

Japan will not send
Fujimori to face charges

TOKYO, Japan — Japan said it will not comply with a request from Interpol, the international police agency, to arrest Alberto Fujimori, former Peruvian president, who lives in exile here. 

Interpol issued a so-called "red notice" for the arrest of former Peruvian president. The Peruvian government wants Tokyo to send Fujimori back to Lima, where he can be tried on charges of murder and kidnapping. The Japanese government has refused.

Japan has been Fujimori's refuge since, while still in office, he fled here two-and-a-half years ago and then faxed his resignation to Lima. 

His flight came as a major corruption scandal was enveloping his already controversial administration. A month after his arrival here he was granted citizenship, based on his Japanese heritage.

Yasuo Fukuda, Japan's chief cabinet secretary, told reporters that Japanese domestic laws prevent the government from carrying out the request for Fujimori's arrest. A spokesman for the National Police Agency said it would need a proper Japanese warrant before taking any action. 

Hatsuhisa Takashima, a foreign ministry spokesman, has repeatedly told reporters that the country cannot extradite the son of Japanese emigrants, because he now holds citizenship. 

He said: "The basic position of [the] Japanese government on this case is that Mr. Fujimori is confirmed to be a Japanese citizen by birth. 

"And, since there is no international agreement or treaty or arrangement between Peru and Japan to handover any criminal suspects, we have no plan to put him in that situation, I mean handover or extradite him from Japan, and send him to Peru."

A government prosecutor in Peru has filed homicide and kidnapping charges against Fujimori in connection with the killing of about two- dozen civilians by state-backed death squads.

During his 10 years in office and now in exile here, 64-year-old Mr. Fujimori has consistently portrayed himself as a fighter against terrorism. 

In a brief letter to foreign correspondents earlier this month, he said the warrant for his arrest was part of a campaign of political persecution by the current Peruvian government. 

While the warrant is unlikely to make life difficult for the ex-president here, it could hinder any international travel plans he might have. Some nations have already notified Lima that they would extradite him to Peru, if he were to enter their countries.

Economic recovery signals
unfreezing of accounts

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — Argentina says it plans to end a year-long freeze on withdrawals from private bank accounts. 

Roberto Lavagna, economy minister, said Thursday that the government is taking the "final and definitive steps" to end the banking limits. The action frees nearly $5 billion in bank deposits. 

Argentina imposed a series of restrictions in late 2001, at the height of an economic crisis that forced the government to devalue its currency, the peso. The move led to a dramatic fall in the peso's value to a fraction of its earlier level against the U.S. dollar.

The freeze was aimed at halting a huge wave of bank withdrawals at the time of the economic crisis. 

The new proposal would allow people who deposited money in dollars to withdraw much of the value in pesos. The government plans to issue bonds to compensate them for the remaining value. 

The plan, which would affect thousands of account-holders, must still receive final approval from Congress and the president. 

The government has lifted many other emergency restrictions in recent months as the economy improves.

BRASILIA, Brazil — The World Bank has agreed to loan Brazil $505 million to help finance social programs. 

James Wolfensohn, World Bank president, and Antonio Palocci, Brazil's finance minister, signed the loan agreement Saturday here. 

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva met with Wolfensohn to explain his plans for social reforms, including a "Zero Hunger" program aimed at providing money for food to poor Brazilians. 
 

Professional Directory A.M. Costa Rica's professional directory is where business people who wish to reach the English-speaking community may invite responses. If you are interested in being represented here, please contact the editor. Psychiatrists Dr. Luis Carlos Sancho Torres   bilingual psychiatrist (UCR) • consulting • depression  • schizophrenia  • psychiatric disability VA Affairs • evaluations for gun permits   • bipolar disorders • addictions  • methadone Available 24-hour a day children and adults office: 233-7782 beeper: 233-3333 lucasancho@yahoo.com Lawyers INVESTMENT RECOVERY CENTER Learn how to best protect your interests in the Villalobos case. Explore your options at http://www.irccr.net Also, we invite you to join one of the most active discussion groups on the case.  Find out what people who care are saying. Join at irccr-subscribe@yahoogroups.com 232-8/16/03 Lic. Arcelio Alberto Hernández Mussio Attorney at Law, Notary Public Official Translator Corporate, Criminal, Constitutional, Family Practice. Property title searches and transfers. Official English/Spanish translation & interpretation We also offer the following services in association with Morning Star Investments CRI, S.A.: *Real Estate Investment opportunities *Money Management *Accounting Services e-mail: legalxpt@racsa.co.cr           Web: www.forovial.com Cell: 365-3088  132-5/29/ KEARNEY-LAWSON & Asoc.       Lic. Gregory Kearney Lawson, attorney at law Villalobos and Savings Unlimited Collections *Investments  *Corporations  *Real Estate Sales in Costa Rica *Tax Shelters  *Immigration *Intellectual Property     *Business procedures *Family and Labor Law     *Locate People *Private Investigations        Ph/Fax: 221-9462, 394-7007 gkearney_lawson@hotmail.com attorneykearney@yahoo.com Real estate agents MARGARET SOHN  of Carico 15 years Costa Rican real estate experience Member of the Costa Rican Real Estate Association, Lic. #1000  Member, Costa Rican-American Chamber of Commerce margaret@caricohenderson.com www.realtorcostarica.com (506) 232-5016 home   (506) 233-8057 office  (506) 382-7399 cell  229-8/9/03 Investments Investigators Empresa de Investigadores Internacionales S.A. Telephone (506) 280-5217  FAX (506) 280-5120 P.O. Box 297-2100 Costa Rica Cédula Juridica #3-101-097681-32 investigators@prodigy.net johnniechaverri@policeone.com 112-5/18/03 Web Design Personalized Web Design •Hosting •Promotion •Logo Design Prices so reasonable they will astound you Call for a quote:  220-4602 www.alegria-webdesign.com We have over 12 years international experience 214-7/14/03

This newspaper seeks the prompt return of two men who ran high-interest investment operations that have gone out of business.

Luis Enrique Villalobos Camacho, 62, was associated with Ofinter S.A., a money exchange house, and with his own private investment business that had about $1 billion in other people’s money on the books.

Villalobos closed his business Oct. 14 and vanished.

Louis Milanes operated Savings Unlimited and several casinos in San José. He left the country with other members of his firm the weekend of Nov. 23. He may have as much as $260 million in his possession. Both operations catered to North Americans.

Villalobos and Milanes are the subjects of international arrest warrants.  Associates of both men have been jailed.

A.M. Costa Rica has posted a $500 reward for information leading to the detention of either man with the hopes that others will make similar pledges. The newspaper believes that investors only will see some of their money when the two men are in custody.

Milanes has few supporters in San José. On the other hand, as the letters frequently on this page show, Villalobos still has supporters who believe that he will reappear and settle his debts. They believe he is in hiding because of a predatory Costa Rican government.