Expats lose their bid to get back $300,000 condo

By: Garland M. Baker B.

Exclusive to A.M. Costa Rica

Editor's Note: While this article was accurate at the time of publication, some information may now be outdated. We are currently preparing a comprehensive update. Sign up for our Alerts to be notified as soon as the revised content is live!

The retired Gringos lost round one in a criminal court case.  They are in shock, along with their lawyer.  They purchased a condominium in August 2001 in Flamingo.  In December 2003, the same company that sold them their condominium sold it again without their knowledge to another party.  Shortly thereafter, a court evicted them and sent all their belongings to storage in San José.  They have fought over four years just to get a court hearing of their case.

The trial lasted almost two weeks.  The evidence supporting the double sale was overwhelming.  The court agreed.  The original owner of the property, a corporation, sold it twice, but the officers are not guilty.   How is this possible?  How can one sell something twice and not be guilty?

This is how:

Getting haled into court seems to be optional here

By: Garland M. Baker B.

Exclusive to A.M. Costa Rica

Editor's Note: While this article was accurate at the time of publication, some information may now be outdated. We are currently preparing a comprehensive update. Sign up for our Alerts to be notified as soon as the revised content is live!

Getting someone to show up for court in a criminal investigation is a Mickey Mouse game of hide-and-seek in Costa Rica.  Good people usually obey the law, whereas bad ones do not.  The whole process is another reason criminals get away with their illicit acts in this country.  Getting witnesses to show up for a trial is even harder if they want to avoid appearing.