Occupation Businessman, investor | Name Jacob Ostreicher | |
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Parent(s) David OstreicherViolet Ostreicher | ||
Orthodox jewish businessman jacob ostreicher escapes bolivia
Jacob Ostreicher (born February 7, 1959) is an American businessman and investor. In June 2011, he was arrested in Santa Cruz, Bolivia while overseeing a rice growing agricultural venture that he had invested in, and was jailed for 18 months on suspicion of money laundering, though he was never formally charged. Ostreicher maintained his innocence and stated that the allegations by the Bolivian government were "the scam of the century". His family and friends initiated a public effort to plea for his release, and actor-activist Sean Penn visited Ostreicher in Bolivia and pledged to work for his release.
Contents
- Orthodox jewish businessman jacob ostreicher escapes bolivia
- Ny politicians join hikind in decrying human rights violations of jacob ostreicher
- Personal life
- Bolivian investment and arrest
- Government extortion ring
- Rally
- White House petition
- Congressional hearings
- Return to United States
- References
On December 18, 2012, Ostreicher was released from prison on $14,000 bail and placed under house arrest. Bolivian officials were later arrested for what authorities state was an extortion ring. On December 16, 2013, Ostreicher arrived in the United States after 30 months in Bolivia. It was unclear how he managed to flee the country.
Ny politicians join hikind in decrying human rights violations of jacob ostreicher
Personal life
Ostreicher was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1959 to David and Violet Ostreicher, both Orthodox Jews. He has 2 children and 5 grandchildren.
Bolivian investment and arrest
A group of investors, including Ostreicher and Geneva lawyer Andre Zolty, invested at least $25 million in a rice farming project in Bolivia in 2008. Zolty stated that the idea originally came from Claudia Liliana Rodriguez who he had worked with in Geneva. The investors became concerned with irregularities and suspected that Rodriguez was cheating them. Ostreicher was dispatched to Bolivia to handle the situation, and pursued criminal charges against Rodriguez. The investors also state that Rodriguez became involved in a romantic and financial relationship with a drug trafficker by the name of Maximiliano Dorado.
Dorado was arrested in 2010, and was imprisoned in Brazil.
On June 4, 2011, after an initial investigation, Ostreicher was arrested for suspicion of money laundering and criminal organization. The prosecutors also claimed that one of the investors, Andre Zolty, was under investigation in Switzerland, however, the Swiss authorities have denied this. Rodriguez has also been arrested. Ostreicher was imprisoned at Palmasola prison.
Ostreicher was brought before a judge who after several hearings ordered for him to be released on September 23, 2011. However the judge reversed his decision a week later. A month later the judge was promoted and a new judge was assigned to the case. Following several postponements, the second judge recused himself from the case; no other judge had yet to be assigned.
A marriage certificate showing Ostreicher was married in Bolivia was entered into evidence during the September 23 hearing. Ostreicher denied that he was married to a Bolivian.
Ostreicher was visited by actor Sean Penn on October 31, 2012.
Bolivian law allows for imprisonment without charge for 18 months during the investigative phase. Since Ostreicher was arrested in early June 2011, the 18-month mark occurred in early December 2012.
Ostreicher appeared in a hearing on Tuesday, December 11, and the judge ordered that the case be sent back to the lower court. Actor Penn was present at the hearing. On December 18, Ostreicher was released from prison on $14,000 bail and was placed under house arrest.
Government extortion ring
Fifteen people, including prosecutors, government officials, and the judge who originally had Ostreicher imprisoned, were arrested in what authorities say was an extortion ring. They include:
Rally
A rally was held for Ostreicher in front of the Bolivian Mission in New York City on May 3, 2012. The rally was arranged by Brooklyn Assemblyman Dov Hikind.
White House petition
On May 3, 2012, supporters of Ostreicher initiated an online petition on the White House We the People website requesting the Obama Administration to assist in the effort to free Jacob. As of June 5, 2012, 35,635 people signed the petition. A total of 25,000 signatures were needed by June 2, 2012 in order to submit the petition to the White House; this requirement was met.
Congressional hearings
Representative Chris Smith (R-NJ) held a hearing in the Congress on June 6, 2012, to investigate the role that the United States Department of State has played in helping free Jacob from Bolivia.
Hearings were also held on August 1, 2012 and May 20, 2013.
Return to United States
On December 16, 2013, Ostreicher arrived in the US after 30 months in Bolivia. He was reported to be in an undisclosed location with Sean Penn and receiving medical attention. It was unclear how he had fled the country.
In May 2014 Ostreicher revealed that after his release, Penn had personally nursed him back to mental and physical health at the latter's home.