The Criminal Court of the First Judicial Circuit of San José issued three months of preventive custody against a subject named Villagra, owner of the real estate company Casas Vita, who is being investigated for alleged scams with housing projects.
The information was confirmed by Mario Valverde, attorney for the victims.
Villagra was preparing to leave the country on Friday, when the authorities arrested him because the Public Ministry issued an alert and asked to be notified if he tried to leave national territory.
According to general prosecutor Emilia Navas, they issued the alert because there are a lot of complaints against Villagra, which were collected after May 22nd, when they conducted raids as part of the investigation.
Prior to the raids there were 47 complaints; a month later the number increased to 125. From the end of June to today, the total number of complaints is approximately 150.
After these operations, the Office of the Prosecutor had requested preventive prison against Villagra, but a judge released him without precautionary measures.
Prosecutor Navas said on Friday in an official statement that the subject was arrested because “there is a risk that his departure from the country would not have a return.” It is not only a problem of economic content – because whole families have lost life savings – but it has to do with their life projects and the right to have a decent home.”
Villagra was sued by more than 100 people for simulating the sale of land and properties that carried mortgages or belonged to other people. The victims state that they gave Villagra all their patrimony and bonuses for the purchase of the houses, but these were never delivered to them.
In fact, Rosibel González, one of the victims, is ready to lose her home because although she paid it to Casas Vita (180 thousand dollars) the company did not cancel the creditor who now claims the property.