By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

A group of Villalobos creditors reports that a trial for Oswaldo Villalobos Camacho has been tentatively scheduled for next Feb. 5. This is the same group that asked creditors to send e-mails to the courts and magistrates to speed up the setting of a date. There is no way to tell if there is a degree of judicial spite in the 2007 date. The courts are clogged, and many cases wait years before a trial takes place. Prosecutors might also be awaiting the appearance of Enrique Villalobos Camacho, who has been a fugitive since 2002.

The group is the United Concerned Citizens & Residents. They have engaged in efforts to seek a speedy trial for Oswaldo, who faces illegal banking, fraud and money laundering charges. They also have urged creditors who have filed as victims to withdraw their allegations. They say that if Oswaldo is found innocent, the other brother will show up.

Some associated with the group have claimed that those who maintain allegations against the Villalobos brothers will be the last to be paid when Enrique Villalobos returns to settle accounts. Others say this attitude is naive and the only person who might get some money are those who are parties to the suits.

The trial date could not be confirmed via the Poder Judicial because of the weekend.

The Villalobos high interest operation had about $1 billion on its books when Enrique Villalobos announced he was closing down Oct. 14, 2002.

Although Enrique Villalobos maintained his brother Oswaldo was not connected with the high-interest operation, prosecutors cite a study by the Judicial Investigating Organization that says he was.

Oswaldo was better known as the operator of the Ofinter S.A. money exchange company, although both brothers shared office space at the Mall San Pedro location. Ofinter, which closed the same day, had other locations around the Central Valley.

The high-interest operation paid up to 3 percent a month and appears to have been involved in the exchange of Colombian pesos for U.S. dollars.