Page 12 - ARUBA TODAY

A12 WORLD NEWS
Thursday 30 March 2017

Salvador gang arranged ‘black widow’ killing for insurance

MARCOS ALEMAN some neighborhoods, ex- stranger, and you’re going
Associated Press perts say. to tell him you have U.S. citi-
SAN SALVADOR, El Salva- “It was a very sophisticated, zenship.”
dor (AP) — El Salvador’s well-planned operation,” And she did. The gang
brutal street gangs have said Violeta Olivares, the dressed her in white and
been involved in every kind head of the prosecutor’s took her to a town in west-
of criminal activity imagin- office for human trafficking. ern El Salvador, where
able: drugs, extortion, pros- “We have two women who they had her marry a man
titution, murder, kidnap- were recruited under the named Marvin Reyes.
ping. same circumstances, and Before the marriage, gang
But even authorities were who were forced through members told Reyes to
surprised when a woman threats, physical and psy- take out a life insurance
escaped the Mara Salva- chological violence and policy, arguing that U.S. im-
trucha gang and told pros- even sexual violence, to migration authorities want-
ecutors its members had marry two men whom they ed to see such a policy
kidnapped her and forced This Dec. 8, 2016 file photo show two women who are accused didn’t know.” before granting him a visa,
her into a “black widow” by police of being part of the Mara Salvatrucha Gang are pre- The scheme came to light prosecutors said. The gang
arranged marriage. After sented to the media at police headquarters in San Salvador, El when the first “bride” es- also probably charged
the wedding, her new hus- Salvador. Authorities were surprised when a woman escaped caped her captors and Reyes for the “privilege” of
the Mara Salvatrucha gang and told prosecutors its members
band was killed in order to had kidnapped her and forced her into a “black widow” ar- went to prosecutors, who marrying a U.S. citizen, but
collect an insurance policy. ranged marriage. After the wedding, her new husband was have granted her protec- authorities don’t know how
The gang’s hook for her killed in order to collect an insurance policy. tion. Her name has been much.
prospective husband was (AP Photo/Salvador Melendez) withheld by authorities for Then, about a month after
also novel: They advertised cases involving insurances Mara Salvatrucha is one fear of gang reprisals. the wedding, the woman
the woman as a U.S. citizen policies of about $15,000 of the three main crime or- Her nightmare began was informed that her hus-
who could get her husband apiece. ganizations in El Salvador, when she got what she band had met a violent
a coveted entry visa to the Prosecutors say their efforts and so far it is the only one thought was a domestic- death. The gang ordered
United States. at determining the scope that authorities have seen help job from a woman the “widow” to go to the
Hers is not the only such of the scam are complicat- involved in the insurance called Esmeralda Aravel morgue to claim the body
case. Prosecutors have ed by the fact that Mara scheme. The country’s in- Flores Acosta. But when she and then go to the insur-
located and are protect- Salvatrucha may be using surance association said it arrived at the house she ance office to claim the
ing another woman who its own female members could not discuss the cases was supposed to clean, policy benefits. All the time,
was forced into the same — who are much less likely because they are still under she realized it was a Mara she was accompanied by
scheme. They say that in to talk — in the frauds. Or investigation. Salvatrucha safe house. gang members.
the two cases, in 2014 and a more sinister possibility is The suspected crimes in- “You are going to have Eventually, the woman
2016, insurance policies that the gang is killing the volve a huge amount of to stay here whether you managed to flee the gang
worth $62,000 and $30,000 women as well after the planning and sophistica- like it or not,” the house’s and contacted prosecu-
were either taken out or policies on their slain hus- tion, and illustrate the con- gang occupants told her, tors, who raided the house
collected. They also are in- bands are collected. trol the gangs have over according to Olivares. where she had been held
vestigating two suspected “You are going to marry a and found $4,000 in cash.q

Sex assault dismissal causes outrage in Mexico, appeal vowed

MARK STEVENSON a car between two young tackers to stop proved she may also decide to inves- No charges were brought
Associated Press men, one of whom fondled was not “defenseless,” as tigate the judge’s action in against the men until the
MEXICO CITY (AP) — Pros- her breasts and one intro- he claimed the law re- the case. girl’s father started a pub-
ecutors in southern Mexico duced his fingers into her quired. The alleged sexual as- lic campaign denouncing
say they are appealing a vagina. The prosecutors’ office in sault occurred in Veracruz them.
court ruling that dismissed The judge granted the the Gulf coast Veracruz in January 2015. The then They became known de-
pederasty charges against youth an injunction to dis- said it “roundly” disagreed 17-year-old victim was risively through social me-
a suspect because there miss the case because “an with the ruling and would standing outside a club dia as “Los Porkys,” after
was no proof he acted incidental touching or fon- appeal it, because “it vio- with friends waiting for her the 1981 movie about mis-
“with lascivious intent.” dling will not be considered lates the rights of a sexual ride when four men, all behaving U.S. teens in the
The ruling shocked many sexual acts, if proof is not attack victim.” Mexico’s wealthy and in their 20s, 1950s.
in Mexico, where the case presented that it was done Federal Judiciary Council allegedly forced her into People outraged by the
already had become em- to satisfy a sexual desire.” said that in serious cases a black Mercedes. Two al- latest ruling posted photos
blematic of the impunity Judge Anuar Gonzalez He- such as this, the defendant legedly assaulted her in the of Judge Gonzalez Hemadi
often enjoyed by wealthy madi also ruled the fact the would remain in jail while car and when they arrived on social media sites, with
males. victim was able to move to the appeal is decided. at one of their homes, she the slogan “Judge Por-
The 17-year-old victim testi- the front seat of the car The council, the country’s allegedly was raped by a ky” and “Don’t forget this
fied she was dragged into after pleading with her at- court oversight agency, third. face!”q