Bolivian judge, in reverse, cancels bail for American businessman
October 4, 2011 - Washington Post


By Associated Press, Published

LA PAZ, Bolivia — A Bolivian judge has revoked his own decision ordering the release on bail of a New York businessman jailed without charge for four months in a money laundering investigation.

American Jacob Ostreicher says he is innocent and believes corrupt authorities who seized millions of dollars worth of his rice are trying to send him home penniless.

Ostreicher's lawyer Abel Montano said Tuesday he is appealing the Sept. 29 decision by Judge Zenon Rodriguez. Rodriguez had six days earlier ordered Ostreicher freed on $14,500 bond.

Ostreicher represents investors who bought land to grow rice and say they were defrauded by a Colombian woman who planted some of their rice on land owned by a Brazilian drug trafficker's brother.