Austrian killed in Playa Laguna

[Rocky]

Originally Posted by Patrik

Gents, after reading your (important and well written) information, you can't get away from the feeling that "life" in DR is on the downslope. (rise in crime, widespread legal corruption, goverment corruption and so on)

If we leave the patriotic pro-DR feelings aside, and make a pure logical and rational calculation - What country in central america are the "most promising" to become a "first world country" regarding democracy, goverment efficency, Justice and economical development?

In your oppinion, what country are/soon to become the "classleader" in Central america for living/retirement?

It would be real interesting and good to have your input on the matter.

Best regards / Patrik

Nothing has changed except for an upswing in drugs and it's probably still the best deal around, including for safety.

[Chris]

Originally Posted by Patrik

Gents, after reading your (important and well written) information, you can't get away from the feeling that "life" in DR is on the downslope. (rise in crime, widespread legal corruption, goverment corruption and so on)

The systemic and endemic corruption in the POP Judiciary is old news. What is new and positive, is that someone was brave enough to participate in a sting to make it public and that the sting worked! The fact that one of them was caught red handed is a good thing. I think it will take a few more before confidence is rattled in amongst the POP judicial mafia. But I would consider this progress nevertheless.

Pragmatism would dictate that there usually is a cost for progress. In this case, the price was just too high to pay.

What would I do, was the initial question? (The question makes me think of a similar religious question and makes my mind go in all kinds of strange directions with all kinds of smart ass answers .. )

I don't think I feel strongly enough about POP and area to contemplate getting involved. In other areas of my life I'll jump in both feet for what I believe is right. It is a pity that the couple involved did not decide to move to another area or take other steps to safeguard themselves.

[Lambada]

Originally Posted by Patrik

If we leave the patriotic pro-DR feelings aside, and make a pure logical and rational calculation - What country in central america are the "most promising" to become a "first world country" regarding democracy, goverment efficency, Justice and economical development?

In your oppinion, what country are/soon to become the "classleader" in Central america for living/retirement?

Patrik, this is a valid question but perhaps more appropriately raised by starting a new thread on it, possibly in General Forum? You'd probably get more responses that way.

Back to this thread...........interesting how today's papers seem to be back peddling away from yesterday's unofficial police theory (reported above) & moving towards 'robbery'. Here's another:
Asaltantes matan a empresario alemán y hieren a su esposa
whereas this one follows the attempted kidnapping theory
DominicanosHoy.com, Tu periódico Digital

Getting back also to question I first posed ............

Originally Posted by Lambada

It goes against the grain for me to ask this but............would it have been better if she had never reported the extortion in the first place?
Given the same or similar circumstances, what would any of us do?

.............what I am asking is 'would we have seen this coming?' If the problem first started when ex-judge let it be known that he would find in Mexican lady's favour if bribed..............what would any of us have done at that point? What were the options........a) to report to her lawyer, as she did, and to get involved in ensuing sting b) to hand over US$2500 & walk away with a favourable verdict or c) to say nothing whatsoever & assume selective deafness. Maybe there are other options people can suggest?

These were experienced expats. Certainly they didn't move areas to protect themselves and that would have been an option when the ex-judge was released, as Chris says. But what of earlier in the process? What could/should they have done then?

[DR Mpe]

Originally Posted by Chris

The systemic and endemic corruption in the POP Judiciary is old news. What is new and positive, is that someone was brave enough to participate in a sting to make it public and that the sting worked! The fact that one of them was caught red handed is a good thing. I think it will take a few more before confidence is rattled in amongst the POP judicial mafia. But I would consider this progress nevertheless.

Pragmatism would dictate that there usually is a cost for progress. In this case, the price was just too high to pay.

What would I do, was the initial question? (The question makes me think of a similar religious question and makes my mind go in all kinds of strange directions with all kinds of smart ass answers .. )

I don't think I feel strongly enough about POP and area to contemplate getting involved. In other areas of my life I'll jump in both feet for what I believe is right. It is a pity that the couple involved did not decide to move to another area or take other steps to safeguard themselves.

"But I would consider this progress nevertheless." That WAS progress, now after what happened it is a huge step back... I usually stick with the system...meaning stick 50 pesos to the cops when the officer says that he is hungry..., pay 100 when I have a beer in my hand and he objects...Now this was 2500 US, but probably the plain was for BIG amount so I assume that the lawyer fees was... Tough one. To bad what happened though

They should have moved...yeah maybe, but we do not know their situation. Out of the country then for sure.

Then another thing: Playa Laguna? Still no security?? Lived there 6 years ago and we got robbed. Yeah, we moved...At that time they said they were working on it..."manana, si dios quiere".

[Hillbilly]

Now do you wonder why people are killed?? For 600K $$ even RD$, you could have eliminated the "problem" for RD$50,000.....no questions asked....

The "deceased" should have been wiser as to who he opened the door for....or had better protection...

Not to excuse the very lousy judicial system in the DR, but two mutts, 17 and 21, have been arrested for the murder of the president of the Student Government of the University of North Carolina. BOTH OF THEM OUT ON SUSPENDED SENTENCES FOR VIOLENT CRIMES!!!!

I think that I am getting too radical....in favor of castration of these people....

HB

[Celt202]

In a country where 'due process' is at best an illusion you have to be sly as a fox to maneuver the system.

Dorothy, you're not in Kansas anymore.

[mountainfrog]

At least four different names of the victim and three different nationalities were given in the press.
The usual sloppiness of a rather non-investigative journalism...

Unfortunately two people in Sosúa seem to have the likely real name of K.T. (with only a slight difference in spelling), which also spurred rumours.

We'll just have to wait and see...

m'frog

(However, whatever the outcome, certain people will again say, that such a murder can happen everywhere... and I agree.
Well, it's just more probable here.)

[Danny W]

My Dominican wife has a finely tuned sense of how to handle situations concerning issues of right and wrong, and I am often surprised by her decisions. Sometimes she fights when I think it is dangerous to do so and sometimes she gives in for reasons of safety when I think she will do the opposite. I have that same sense of how to navigate the system in New York.

I temper my moral outrage with the desire to see my children and grandchildren grow and flourish - that's our way of trying to make the world a better place. Others are on a different path. But it's not a situation exclusive to the North Coast of the DR. - D

[Dre Broeders]

I read in another forum that the man who was killed had cheated people for 2.000.000 German Marks in Europe.

[Celt202]

The plot thickens....