HIKIND, DE BLASIO URGE STATE DEPARTMENT TO PROTECT OSTREICHER

NEWS FROM
ASSEMBLYMAN DOV HIKIND

December 20, 2012

Contact: Yehudah Meth                                                       For Immediate Release

973-945-4903 (cell)

HIKIND, DE BLASIO URGE STATE DEPARTMENT
TO PROTECT OSTREICHER

INNOCENT AMERICAN FREED ON BAIL FACES
GRAVE DANGER IN BOLIVIA

Assemblyman Dov Hikind (D-Brooklyn) and NYC Public Advocate Bill de Blasio have called on Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to do everything possible to protect Jacob Ostreicher, a U.S. citizen recently freed on bail and placed under house arrest in Bolivia. Ostreicher’s release from Palmasola Prison in Bolivia came after 19 months of wrongful incarceration. In recent weeks, numerous Bolivian officials accused of robbing and extorting Ostreicher have been arrested and detained in Bolivia, including the judge who initially jailed Ostreicher.

“In light of recent developments, Jacob’s attorneys in both Bolivia and at Patton-Boggs in Washington are confident that Jacob will be released soon,” said the letter to Mrs. Clinton. “However, as Jacob continues to reside in Bolivia under a partial house arrest, he may easily be the target of reprisals. Indeed, Jacob is recognized by reporters in South America as a repository of information than can damage the reputation of the criminals who sought to extort and rob businessmen doing business in Bolivia. As such, his family believes that Jacob’s life is in danger—even greater danger than when he was behind prison walls.”

Ostreicher’s plight as an innocent U.S. citizen who fell prey to a corrupt Bolivian justice system has caught the attention of not only the international media but also Hollywood, with the auspicious intervention of actor Sean Penn, who was able to convince Bolivian President Evo Morales to investigate—and now incarcerate—his own ministers.

“We believe that Jacob needs your protection and respectfully urge you to speak to this matter,” asks the plea to Mrs. Clinton. “Do everything in your power to guarantee Jacob’s safety until he is free to come home. Sheltered from physical harm, we expect Jacob Ostreicher’s full exoneration to come very shortly. His return to American soil will be a moment of triumph we will all joyously share.”