Nicaragua Jails American Without Trial: Incompetence or Conspiracy?
- Posted on July 7, 2011 at 3:53pm by
Buck Sexton
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American Citizen and former Peace Corps volunteer Jason Puracal remains imprisoned for his eighth month in Nicaragua on drug trafficking, money laundering, and organized crime charges, despite a legal requirement that trial begin within six months.
Puracal, who operated a local Re/Max real estate franchise in the town of San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua, was arrested last November. Apart from the denial of his right to a trial under Nicaraguan law, a number of US officials, including a retired FBI agent, a Congressman, and the DEA, are casting major doubts over the legitimacy of the evidence gathered and the motivations behind the prosecution.
Jason Puracal with his family
MarketWatch reports that Steve Moore, a retired FBI Agent, has his qualms with the case:
“Nothing supports the charges against Jason. On the contrary there are many irregularities that actually indicate he is being intentionally framed by authorities. The state department needs to step in before he is convicted and this escalates into the next American wrongfully-imprisoned overseas media frenzy.”
Procedurally, the police in the Nicaraguan town of San Juan del Sur have made so many errors it is raising suspicions of a cover-up. The details of the case are laid out here in the Tico Times, but they include the following: a few hundred dollars found in several currencies at his residence — which the police believe is somehow evidence of money laundering activity; trace amounts of cocaine were allegedly found on the steering wheel of his car; the trace chemical test seems to be the only evidence the Nicaraguan authorities have of drug involvement, and that test itself (which doesn’t prove drug trafficking anyway) may have been tainted.
Fortunately for Puracal and his family, Congressman Adam Smith of Washington has taken up his cause. Rep. Smith gave this press release, and is actively lobbying the US State Department to become more involved in securing Puracal’s release, or at least improving his living conditions. The press release contained strong criticism of Nicaragua’s handling of the case:
“Jason Puracal was arrested on drug trafficking charges in Nicaragua on November 11, 2010. In the nearly six months Mr. Puracal has been behind bars, the Nicaraguan authorities have presented no evidence linking him to any crime. There are also disturbing reports of Mr. Puracal being mistreated and denied medical care while in jail.”
Even the appointment of the judge set to preside over Puracal’s has caused outrage. Puracal’s defense attorney, Fabbrith Gomez, confirmed that the judge appointed to take over the trial in this delayed case is neither an attorney, nor is his appointment legal under the Nicaraguan Constitution. The judge was sworn in without Supreme Court Approval, “by a magistrate who had no official authorization to do so. We fear Narvaez was sent to convict Jason,” says Gomez.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has apparently provided written confirmation to Congressman Smith denying any involvement in the case, which some are pointing to as another indicator that the Nicaraguan government is framing an innocent American.
Puracal himself believes that the case against him is part of a Sandinista political conspiracy, involving a land grab and a vendetta against opposition political figures to the ruling party. Puracal is a minority owner – less than 5 % – in “Finca Las Nubes,” a sustainable farm outside of San Juan del Sur, and another farm, “Finca Petén,” in Jinotega, but he is listed as a company officer for the two farms. Puracal told The Nica Times that his connection to the two farms is a focus of the police during questioning, which makes him think some sort of political land grab is in play in advance of elections.
Currently, Puracal is in La Modelo maximum security prison in Tipitapa. His daily conditions are poor, his family says he has been denied medical care and food, and his life may be in danger.
Nicaraguan police today confirmed that a drug trafficker one cell away from Puracal was murdered, and the price paid for his life was allegedly $2,000,000. The assassin committed the crime with a 9mm pistol that had been smuggled into the prison.
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Comments (51)
republapig
Posted on July 7, 2011 at 6:25pmSpeaking of south americommie pusbags, I wonder when Maobama will pardon Noriega?
Report Post »republapig
Posted on July 7, 2011 at 6:19pm@ kickinback
Report Post »Right on the money! Of course since Maobama hates America it follows that he hates Americans. But it is obvious that he LOVES mexicans!
Jimbo96
Posted on July 7, 2011 at 6:09pmAnother reason NOT to live in foreign countries that are unfriendly to Americans…the fact the the State Dept is run by Clinton isn’t much help either…
Report Post »ares338
Posted on July 7, 2011 at 5:58pmStay in country and you will be somewhat safer.
Report Post »dswenk
Posted on July 7, 2011 at 5:46pmWait, things like this cant happen,. Obama wont let Texas execute a Mexican dirt bag criminal because he says things like this would happen if we do. Well guess what Obama, Americans are jailed in the world whether Texas executes a criminal or not.
Report Post »clayp72
Posted on July 7, 2011 at 5:40pmThe only good thing to come out of Nicaragua are the cigars
Report Post »psst
Posted on July 7, 2011 at 5:39pmI have no knowledge about his guilt or innocece.
But the government of Nicaragua is controlled by by Piney Chavez, whose friends like me call him by his nic instad of Pineappleface Chavez.
Ortega of Nic. is a communist like Chavez. The dem controlled congress in Reagan‘s time got phpissed off when Reagan helped the contra to kick Ortega’s pharse out of office. This is his 2nd stint as prez. Even waaay back then, you could always count on the dems to back communists around the globe.The more things change,the more they remain the same. No,not really,.Actually, things get much worse.
Report Post »The dems now have their own communist in the WH.And a Moslem commie at that. An a foreign one to boot.
Ya‘ll didn’t fall for that hitech digitally altered bake the fake cake BC did ya? Ok. that’s yer problemo.
Getting back to Piney the commie and his comrade Ortega..Ol phFartega could be following orders.
As an aside. Soetoro is hoping to imitate Piney’s rule here in ameriKa.
Ya know, both are marxists. Only one is a Moslem though.
beensoup
Posted on July 7, 2011 at 5:22pmWhere’s Jesse Jackson?
Report Post »babylonvi
Posted on July 7, 2011 at 5:17pmSorry, but I have little sympathy for self inflicted injury. No reasonable would go to live in communist controlled country and THEN go about selling real estate, something commies feel should be owned ‘by the people’. Don’t go off to foreign shores, set up housekeeping and business and then complain you don;t have the US Constitution to protect you. At this rate, pretty soon that won;t even help you over here.
Report Post »bitter clinger
Posted on July 7, 2011 at 5:12pmamerica is big enough that you shouldnt have to go to a comunist country.
Report Post »Kerri g
Posted on July 7, 2011 at 5:08pmThese are corrupt thrid world countries. Hey, wait a minute, this is how the left wants America to be! Wow, no wonder there is no help comming from our govt. to help American citizens. Guess they are just getting us ready for the new and improved America.
Report Post »NHABE64
Posted on July 7, 2011 at 5:06pmAmericans are sometimes ignorant and stupid. Going to a **** country like this and then be surprised these ******** arrest you and jail you at the blink of an eye. Come on people, use the brain God gave you.
Report Post »Sicialian Eyeball
Posted on July 7, 2011 at 4:49pmThe world is a very dangerous place . Stay home.
Report Post »cheezwhiz
Posted on July 7, 2011 at 4:43pmSo at the moment, we have :
Report Post »2 Americans jailed in Iran
1 American jailed in Mexico
1 American jailed in Nicaragua
1 Israeli soldier captured by hamas,
so let me ask Hillary what she asked the Congress a few days ago :
Whose side are you on ?
beverlee
Posted on July 7, 2011 at 4:41pmNo, you add yours!
Report Post »PhilliePhan
Posted on July 7, 2011 at 4:31pmWhy isn‘t Clinton’s State Department all over this? I think that there is no political capital there. They are too busy wondering how they can enact the “Dream Act”, and not worried about American citizens.
Report Post »NJTMATO
Posted on July 7, 2011 at 4:30pmComing to a town near you
Report Post »KickinBack
Posted on July 7, 2011 at 4:29pmWhere’s Obama? Obama can jump in to protect a CONVICTED mexican murderer/rapist in an AMERICAN court, but he will not spare one second to help US citizens imprisoned without trial in other countries??
NOBAMA 2012
Report Post »PhilliePhan
Posted on July 7, 2011 at 4:32pmSo true!!
Report Post »cheezwhiz
Posted on July 7, 2011 at 4:39pmKickinBack
Report Post »Where’s Obama? Obama can jump in to protect a CONVICTED mexican murderer/rapist in an AMERICAN court, but he will not spare one second to help US citizens imprisoned without trial in other countries??
—————
I won’t be surprised if Holder sends his people to Nicaragua….to help that government convict the American man
Gonzo
Posted on July 7, 2011 at 4:25pmWhen you decide to live in a foreign country, you are subject to all sorts of injustices from foreign goverments. Decisions have consequences.
Report Post »SpankDaMonkey
Posted on July 7, 2011 at 4:22pm.
Report Post »Texas is about to overdose some poor mexican, so this kid better watch out…………
sportlock
Posted on July 7, 2011 at 5:03pm@Spankedamonkey
Report Post »Oh isn’t that rich, the poor Mexican? You mean the Mexican that smashed a hole in the face of a 16yr old with a rock 2 times the size of her head after raping her and left a 15 inch stick with a screw in the tip of it hanging fron her ******? You must be the pizza guy outside the Casey Anthoney trial with the sign asking her to marry you
Bum thrower
Posted on July 7, 2011 at 5:38pmIn Texas, the lethal injection drug of choice is guacamole!!.. at least you die with a good taste in your mouth!! LOL
Seriously, this guy (Humberto Leal) was convicted of a BRUTAL murder and deseves it!
Report Post »Marengo Ohio Patriot
Posted on July 7, 2011 at 7:51pmBonehead MONKEY
Report Post »Tex. is about to dispatch a confessed rapist…..
Read your facts, before comparing apples to oranges’!
DarkFire
Posted on July 7, 2011 at 4:18pmThis is why i stand by my convictions of never traveling to any place that you cannot drink the water from the tap, and this includes Arkansas – lol. WAKE UP AMERICA, YOU CAN’T GOTO OTHER COUNTRIES THINKING OUR LAWS WILL APPLY. Stay home, travel to Mt.Rushmore or any of OUR national treasures!
Report Post »mtb
Posted on July 8, 2011 at 10:09amUmmm. Have you ever been to Arkansas? Beautiful State, friendly people.
Report Post »mtb
Posted on July 8, 2011 at 10:12amMy first post is in reply to DARKFIRE. There is something wrong with the reply tab. It makes a new comment, instead of a reply.
Report Post »wild72
Posted on July 7, 2011 at 4:16pmThis is why u should stay in your own country. Help your own people out. You go to there town and u get what u get:)
Report Post »SavingtheRepublic.com
Posted on July 7, 2011 at 4:15pmAnother example of out of control democratic(majority aka mob rule) judicial systems yet ppl condemn our Republic based (rule of law) judicial system after the Anthony case!
Report Post »olddog
Posted on July 7, 2011 at 4:12pmLast time I checked Nicasomething wasn’t in America, enjoy your visit….
Report Post »Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on July 7, 2011 at 4:19pmExpect to be treated like trash in a communist country. I feel sorry for him and his family, but he is an adult and knows what he is dealing with. With hope, his Congressman can help get things rolling for him.
Report Post »Ookspay
Posted on July 7, 2011 at 6:00pmAmen Brother… Ookspay will never travel outside the US again. Thank God for Hawaii!
Report Post »Robert-CA
Posted on July 7, 2011 at 4:11pmLet’s send them Casey .
Report Post »