An interesting news article concerning a vessel named Pilar Del Caribe that I've never seen before. The date on the link is 2/22/96.
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Former Swiss diplomat says trial fair in Jamaica case
( Reuters )
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KINGSTON, Jamaica (Reuter) - The Jamaican government said Thursday it had not received notice that a Swiss national and former Hungarian diplomat acquitted on drug charges this week planned to sue the government over his arrest.
But a government official who asked not to be named told Reuters that Jamaica most likely would attempt to settle out of court if Peter Hargitay went ahead with his threat to file suit.
A Kingston court Monday acquitted Hargitay and three crew members of his yacht, the Pilar del Caribe, on drug trafficking charges. The four had been arrested in August after 39 pounds of cocaine were found on board the ship when it docked in Jamaica.
"Somebody is going to pay for this," Hargitay said after his acquittal, adding that he was considering filing a multimillion-dollar lawsuit against the Jamaican government and the DEA.
Hargitay said his public relations firm in Vienna lost $4 million in fee income while one of his German subsidiaries went into bankruptcy. He estimated his total losses at $20 million as a result of the negative publicity from his arrest.
During the trial, the presiding judge described the prosecution' s key witness as "a liar" and expressed contempt for the conduct of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency agent involved in the case.
Hargitay contends he was approached by DEA agents who asked to use his vessel for an undercover drug sting. He said he cooperated fully, but the DEA pretended ignorance when the cocaine was found on his vessel.
Hargitay, who had Hungarian business interests, was the former Hungarian honorary consul to Jamaica and its chief executive officer of several firms in the United States, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Switerland and Italy. He said his Olympus Investment Inc (OLIQX.O) saw its share prices plummet from $6.25, on news of his arrest, to $0.10 a share.
REUTER
Copyright 1996 Reuters Ltd. All rights reserved |
