Increasingly Positive

 

 

In a ruling last week by the Sala III (Third Chamber) of the Supreme Court (the second highest appellate court of Costa Rica), the court reversed the guilty verdict against two brothers (unrelated to the Villalobos case) who had received multiple year sentences following an lengthy trial of a case ruled Complex Procedure.  The convictions were thrown out by the higher court and the case ordered retried due to excessive court delays during their trial.
 
In the ruling, the Appellate Court chastised the lower courts for their inefficient distribution of work during this case in particular, and Complex Procedure cases in general, and ordered the court system to better distribute their work loads to reach more prompt resolutions.
 
As we know, the case against Osvaldo Villalobos was ruled a Complex Procedure in May, 2003, mostly as a result of the high number of investor accusations of fraud, (most of which have since been withdrawn or thrown out), and allowed the Prosecutor's Office to extend their investigation for almost two years.
 
As a result of this ruling, Osvaldo's Defense lawyers have presented a second written appeal for an early trial date. We hope that this unexpected, but most favorable ruling, will have positive effects on our own case as it proceeds through trial.  Clearly, our interest lies not only in an early trial date, but in a quick resolution once the trial gets underway.  We have also been informed that an "early" trial date could be as late as March or April of 2006, but we will have to wait several more days to know for sure.
 
It is perhaps too early to call, but in recent weeks, and from various reliable sources, we have received information that allows us to be increasingly positive that our patience and trust, steady and firm through these years of despair for so many, will be justly rewarded.
 
From now until the end of the trial, we would encourage our members and all investors to refrain from publicity that would call undue attention to ourselves, the case, or to Osvaldo or Luis Enrique Villalobos.  We believe that now is the time for quiet action and resolution.
 
We will inform you when the date for the trial is set by the courts.
 
Thank you.

 

 

Grupo UCCR
uccr@ticostuff.com
http://www.ticostuff.com/uccr/