BajaNomad

B.C. man freed after 3 years in Mexican jail

windgrrl - 8-18-2011 at 07:51 PM

Follow-up to Los Barriles story on CBC website tonight:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2011/08/18/bc-jailed-in-mexico-man-freed.html
A Vancouver man has been reunited with his family after spending three and a half years in a Mexican prison on drug charges apparently laid by mistake.

Pavel Kulisek was greeted by his wife and two daughters as he arrived in Vancouver Thursday after a Mexican judge on Tuesday cleared him of drug trafficking charges for lack of evidence.

Kulisek was arrested in Mexico in March 2008 while on an extended vacation with his family.

Police swooped into a restaurant on the Baja Peninsula while he was having dinner with two Mexican men, one who had been a neighbour and another to whom Kulisek had sold construction materials, Kulisek said.

It turned out that both men were involved in the drug trade, which Kulisek claims he did not know.

Kulisek's case never came to trial. His lawyer said a background check performed by the RCMP showed that his client was not involved in any prior criminal activity.

"I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to those who have supported and helped Pavel and our family during our painful journey over the past three years," said Kulisek's wife, Jirina, said in a release Thursday. "Without all of you, my girls and I would not have survived this terrible ordeal."

woody with a view - 8-18-2011 at 07:54 PM

lucky guy..... how much does the Mexican Judicial system pay innocent people for each year they are wrongly incarcerated?

DENNIS - 8-18-2011 at 08:30 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by windgrrl
Kulisek's case never came to trial.



Three and a half years in a smelly prison without being sentenced?
Nice place, this Mexico. I'd be more worried about this type of crime long before I would about street crap.

gnukid - 8-18-2011 at 08:41 PM

Really glad to hear that things are going right and family is back together.

Loretana - 8-18-2011 at 10:04 PM

originally posted by Dennis

"Three and a half years in a smelly prison without being sentenced?"


That's nothing. There is no such thing as a right to a speedy trial in Mexico.

He was fortunate that after having an "Autoformal de prision" dictated against him that he was released. They could have given him seven years.

Napoleanic Code=guilty until proven innocent.

DENNIS - 8-19-2011 at 06:19 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Loretana

originally posted by Dennis
"Three and a half years in a smelly prison without being sentenced?"
------------


That's nothing. Napoleanic Code=guilty until proven innocent.


Thanks for the civics lesson, but I ain't new here.
And...if you think "That's nothing," I'd say you've been down here way too long and could use a refresher course in human dignity.

mtgoat666 - 8-19-2011 at 08:12 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by gnukid
Really glad to hear that things are going right and family is back together.


things did not go right. the victim was victimized with 3-years of incarceration.

f*ck the mexican legal system!

if you learn anything from this: perhaps the lesson should be do not befriend mexicans until you know their background.

gnukid - 8-19-2011 at 08:40 AM

I have followed the story closely, this is a complicated. If you recall Pavel was fingered in a setup at the hotdog stand by US enforcement in LB, undercover FBI supposedly. The FBI turned over their notes to Mexico who put Pavel on a plane to prison and attempted to sort it out, in affect demonstrating that the initial US investigation was incomplete. All countries have systems of justice that work slowly and sometimes unfairly.

I am glad to hear that as of today, Pavel Kulisek is free, alive and back with his family, that's a better result than most unfair prosecution cases initiated by undercover FBI/DEA.

Notice that all too often the US Mexican drug war gets small time side liners, often innocents and top capos continue onward? That's a fact and an obvious factor to an intentionally flawed and corrupt system.

The lesson to be learned is be careful who you associate with, be cautious about joining in partnerships with people you do not know well. Consider doing a thorough investigation of people you choose to work with, name, address, family? and associate with and when you see red flags or things do not add up, such as income, work, lifestyle, facts, understand that red flags are signs of trouble.

Especially when someone new and flashy chooses you as their real estate bagman it's probably not a good thing.

Woooosh - 8-19-2011 at 08:52 AM

It wasn't Dudley Dooright who rode to his rescue? I'm surprised the RCMP had that much juice in Meixco.

windgrrl - 8-19-2011 at 09:15 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by gnukid

Notice that all too often the US Mexican drug war gets small time side liners, often innocents and top capos continue onward? That's a fact and an obvious factor to an intentionally flawed and corrupt system.

The lesson to be learned is be careful who you associate with, be cautious about joining in partnerships with people you do not know well. Consider doing a thorough investigation of people you choose to work with, name, address, family? and associate with and when you see red flags or things do not add up, such as income, work, lifestyle, facts, understand that red flags are signs of trouble.

Especially when someone new and flashy chooses you as their real estate bagman it's probably not a good thing.


...or if there might be a $2 million bounty on your new best friend:
http://www.justice.gov/dea/fugitives/sandiego/arellano-felix.html

woody with a view - 8-19-2011 at 10:55 AM

Quote:

The lesson to be learned is be careful who you associate with, be cautious about joining in partnerships with people you do not know well. Consider doing a thorough investigation of people you choose to work with, name, address, family? and associate with and when you see red flags or things do not add up, such as income, work, lifestyle, facts, understand that red flags are signs of trouble.


about that time you'd find yourself sinking into a vat of acid.....:light:

drarroyo - 8-19-2011 at 11:06 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by DENNIS
Three and a half years in a smelly prison without being sentenced?
Nice place, this Mexico.


West Memphis 3 anyone? :fire:

CortezBlue - 8-19-2011 at 02:03 PM

Three and a half years in a smelly prison without being sentenced?
Nice place, this Mexico. I'd be more worried about this type of crime long before I would about street crap.

Thanks God that doesn't happen in the US of A:o

UnoMas - 8-19-2011 at 08:08 PM

Glad to hear Pavel is back with his family. My heart goes out to this family thinking of the time he missed with his children, wife, and the destruction of his life that this caused.:mad:

[Edited on 8-20-2011 by UnoMas]

DENNIS - 8-19-2011 at 08:10 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by drarroyo
Quote:
Originally posted by DENNIS
Three and a half years in a smelly prison without being sentenced?
Nice place, this Mexico.


West Memphis 3 anyone? :fire:


They were sentenced.

BajaBlanca - 8-19-2011 at 08:30 PM

very sad story, IMO. be careful who you associate with is very good advice !!

Cardon Man - 8-20-2011 at 03:26 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by gnukid

Notice that all too often the US Mexican drug war gets small time side liners, often innocents and top capos continue onward? That's a fact and an obvious factor to an intentionally flawed and corrupt system.



No doubt. What a joke this war on drugs is. FBI agents in Los Barriles?...chasing down dime bags of blow at local watering holes I have to assume? US tax dollars hard at work!

windgrrl - 8-20-2011 at 04:03 PM

The law caught a bigger fish and some of his friends in LB that day:

"U.S. citizen Gustavo Rivera Martinez, 42, who is also suspected of being a high-ranking Arellano member, is a Bonita Vista High School graduate who has relatives on the U.S. side of the border, according to U.S. authorities. The DEA offered a $2 million reward for information leading to his capture."

Link to full article "Leading Lives of Quiet Deception" (or perhaps "lay down with dogs, get up with fleas"):
http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20040628/news_1n28oc...
Quote:
Originally posted by Cardon Man
Quote:
Originally posted by gnukid

Notice that all too often the US Mexican drug war gets small time side liners, often innocents and top capos continue onward? That's a fact and an obvious factor to an intentionally flawed and corrupt system.



No doubt. What a joke this war on drugs is. FBI agents in Los Barriles?...chasing down dime bags of blow at local watering holes I have to assume? US tax dollars hard at work!
[url=http:

[Edited on 8-20-2011 by windgrrl]

Cardon Man - 8-20-2011 at 04:42 PM

I didn't notice a direct mention of the los barriles arrest in that article. Not to say that connection isn't reality.
Nonetheless, the capture of any individual members of any cartel ( be it oil or meth ) will do nothing to deter the business and flow of product overall.

windgrrl - 8-20-2011 at 07:42 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Cardon Man
I didn't notice a direct mention of the los barriles arrest in that article. Not to say that connection isn't reality.
Nonetheless, the capture of any individual members of any cartel ( be it oil or meth ) will do nothing to deter the business and flow of product overall.



Here's the video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrZbKb6_NGE

Here's Pavel's synopsis of the ordeal on his website:
http://www.pavelkulisek.com/

Oddjob - 8-21-2011 at 08:31 PM

So I'm trying to understand this whole thing and it sounds like some poor guy was arrested and jailed in Mexico for almost three and a half years without being charged with a crime solely for eating some tacos with a couple of suspected narcos. What a mess the Mexican legal system is with their primitive justice system of guilty until proven innocent. Three years in jail could easily ruin the rest of your life but everyone seems to think OK, glad you are back with your loved ones etc. and that it all worked out. Where is the outrage from everyone? This could happen to anyone that lives in Baja.

gnukid - 8-21-2011 at 09:20 PM

Let's say you arrive in a foreign place called Los Barriles supposedly on vacation, then someone asks you to evaluate real estate and help with purchasing, carry money or paperwork, but the buyer was someone you just met motorcycling and you shared hotdogs and beers and so forth, are you guilty of conspiracy to launder illicit funds if you failed to ask where the money came from and for failing to do due diligence? Are you responsible for taking part in a crime ring without knowing who the people you work with? What if one is a FBI/DEA informant and is setting you up to avoid his own charges? Are you guilty of conspiracy, generally yes? Can you attempt to prove you are innocent? maybe? Whose fault is it for being involved, naive and busted-it's your own fault.

Oddjob - 8-21-2011 at 11:10 PM

Lots of what ifs and FBI/DEA conspiracy theories by you, but the fact remains that this person's basic rights were violated. You are blaming the victim once again instead of admitting that the Mexican judicial system is at fault. Maybe you are trying to sell some real estate or something and you're just trying to sweep this under the table.

gnukid - 8-22-2011 at 06:46 AM

Hey Oddjob

These are the facts of the case.

Be careful out there and be aware there are bad elements out there, including poorly trained FBI/DEA who fail.

If you have any questions do an internet search and read the official reports on pavel+kulisek+barriles use a timeline feature and go back chronologically, its very clear what the facts are.

Be aware anywhere you go there are a % criminal people, sociopaths, antisocial narcistic criminal people who will use you and throw you to the wolves. They exist everywhere, sometimes they have names like cartel or mafia, sometimes they do not, either way they are very charismatic and convincing.

You can consider the total population, do a sample, a portion or corrupted and quite pleased about it, that includes people in US law enforcement, banking, politics, they are your bernie madoffs, be careful about people who earn money easily, productivity is hard not easy.

Better to work in the garden, make your way, be your own person and avoid get rich quick schemes, Real Estate flipping, if it sounds too good, it is.

[Edited on 8-22-2011 by gnukid]

Oddjob - 8-22-2011 at 07:44 AM

Thanks for the advice, I don't know how I've managed to survive for so long without it. Why can't you admit that this poor guy was railroaded instead of comparing this to Bernie Madoff and other scammers? Sitting in a Mexican prison for three plus years without being charged is the issue, not get rich quick schemes.

drarroyo - 8-22-2011 at 08:33 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Oddjob
Thanks for the advice, I don't know how I've managed to survive for so long without it.


Hey Fulano. This guy made some naive (sp) moves.
Lots of folks in LB know of this.
Glad he's out of this nightmare.
Now crawl back in your hole.
besos

toneart - 8-22-2011 at 09:23 AM

Regardless of who oddjob is, both he and gnukid are correct!

The U.S. does have covert agents operating there. While we couldn't know if they would try to set you up unless it happens to you or someone you know, you must entertain the idea that it is possible.

The Mexican (lack of) Justice System is corrupt and there is no protection there. One must be vigilant as to who he befriends and always look for a hidden agenda. If he doesn't he is naive and at the same time, a victim. In that sense he does bear some personal responsibility. However, the poor guy who went to prison appears to unknowingly have dined with wrong people at the wrong time. I guess he is lucky they weren't all taken out by cartel assassins.

The Mexican Justice System is notoriously backwards, corrupt and brutally unfair. It always has been. Don't look for the U.S. Consulate to be of help. They do NOT intervene. You are on your own, in a foreign country, with no civil rights.

Oddjob - 8-22-2011 at 09:56 AM

Quote:
Hey Fulano. This guy made some naive (sp) moves.
Lots of folks in LB know of this.
Glad he's out of this nightmare.
Now crawl back in your hole.
besos



FYI,
I am not Fulano and your two cents worth of comment adds nothing to this thread.

drarroyo - 8-22-2011 at 10:01 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by toneart
One must be vigilant as to who he befriends and always look for a hidden agenda. If he doesn't he is naive and at the same time, a victim. In that sense he does bear some personal responsibility. However, the poor guy who went to prison appears to unknowingly have dined with wrong people at the wrong time.


Yes it's very unfortunate and unjust. But it wasn't JUST a matter of dining at the wrong time. Gnu has already elaborated upon what many here in LB know.
salut

drarroyo - 8-22-2011 at 10:03 AM

Quote:
Quote:
Originally posted by Oddjob
Hey Fulano. This guy made some naive (sp) moves.
Lots of folks in LB know of this.
Glad he's out of this nightmare.
Now crawl back in your hole.
besos



FYI,
I am not Fulano and your two cents worth of comment adds nothing to this thread.


riiiight

JoeJustJoe - 8-22-2011 at 10:31 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by drarroyo
Quote:
Originally posted by Oddjob
Thanks for the advice, I don't know how I've managed to survive for so long without it.


Hey Fulano. This guy made some naive (sp) moves.
Lots of folks in LB know of this.
Glad he's out of this nightmare.
Now crawl back in your hole.
besos


It's nice to see others can spot this second handle when he pollutes this site with his anti-Mexico theme, and vain attempt to keep Americans from visiting or living in Mexico.

Yes it's unfortunate this poor guy spent years in a Mexico jail but the good thing is Mexico doesn't have capital punishment so at least the guy didn't have to worry about getting executed by mistake that happens much more than it should in the USA especially with poor minorities of color.

Mexico like the United States has a unfair justice system or two tier justice system for the rich and poor. Like the USA if you have money in Mexico your chances of getting off are so much greater.

I'm surprise this person wasn't offered bail in Mexico. Because I have known, and heard of people charged of a serious crime in Mexico, but many of them are let out of prison on bail, and once out on bail. It's very unlikely they ever go back to prison, and they just wait forever until their case goes thought the Mexican justice system.

There are some charges that aren't eligible for bail, and this might be one of them. So really I'm just talking in general, because I don't know all the details of this case.

[Edited on 8-22-2011 by JoeJustJoe]

baja1943 - 8-22-2011 at 11:56 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by JoeJustJoe
Quote:
Originally posted by drarroyo
Quote:
Originally posted by Oddjob
Thanks for the advice, I don't know how I've managed to survive for so long without it.


Hey Fulano. This guy made some naive (sp) moves.
Lots of folks in LB know of this.
Glad he's out of this nightmare.
Now crawl back in your hole.
besos
Thanks for posting your racist views on a subject you know nothing about. Were you ever in Mexico, troll?

It's nice to see others can spot this second handle when he pollutes this site with his anti-Mexico theme, and vain attempt to keep Americans from visiting or living in Mexico.

Yes it's unfortunate this poor guy spent years in a Mexico jail but the good thing is Mexico doesn't have capital punishment so at least the guy didn't have to worry about getting executed by mistake that happens much more than it should in the USA especially with poor minorities of color.

Mexico like the United States has a unfair justice system or two tier justice system for the rich and poor. Like the USA if you have money in Mexico your chances of getting off are so much greater.

I'm surprise this person wasn't offered bail in Mexico. Because I have known, and heard of people charged of a serious crime in Mexico, but many of them are let out of prison on bail, and once out on bail. It's very unlikely they ever go back to prison, and they just wait forever until their case goes thought the Mexican justice system.

There are some charges that aren't eligible for bail, and this might be one of them. So really I'm just talking in general, because I don't know all the details of this case.

[Edited on 8-22-2011 by JoeJustJoe]
Thanks for posting your racist views on a subject you know nothing about. Were you ever in Mexico, troll

[Edited on 8-22-2011 by baja1943]

Oddjob - 8-22-2011 at 01:31 PM

J.Joe's Baja travels are limited to the alleys in the Zona Del Norte.