Gilberto Ventura Ceballos and 11 Others Charged in the Kidnapping, Torture, and Murder of 5 Chinese Students

[Moderator_02]

http://www.prensa.com/in_english/Sigue-Gilberto-Ventura-aumentan-recompensa_21_4654994459.html

Edited April 8, 2017 by Moderator_02
edited title to make it a bit more general

[Moderator_02]

Quote

Outrage over suspected killer jail break

Posted on December 30, 2016 in Panama

Post Views: 120

 OUTRAGED FRIENDS and relatives  of the five Chinese­- Panamanian youths murdered and some buried alive between 2010 and 2011 protested  on the streets of Chorrera on  Friday Dec 30.

They demanded the early recapture of Dominican Gilberto Ventura Ceballos, who is charged in the deaths and who escaped from La Joyita prison on Dec. 28.

With banners in hand and dressed in white, they appealed to the judicial authorities to expedite the case.

They said they were outraged after they  learned of the escape.

Ventura Ceballos was extradited from the Dominican Republic in November 2011 after the authorities of the island confirmed his identity.

He has also used the names of Angel Betancourt and Fermín Taveras.

A  $25,000 reward has been offered for information leading to his recapture.

http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/outrage-suspected-killer-jail-break

[Moderator_02]

At least now we get to see a mugshot.

 

Quote

Suspected killer of five breaks jail

Posted on December 29, 2016 in Panama

Ceballos has been detained since Jan 2012

Post Views: 303

A $25,000 reward has been offered for information on the whereabouts of  of a suspected killer of five who escaped from La Joyita prison on Wednesday December 28.

Gilberto Ventura Ceballos  is accused of kidnapping and murdering five

Chinese­Panamanian youths in La Chorrera between 2010 and 2011.

Police who upped the reward from $5,000 to $25,000 that search operations for the fugitive have intensified.

http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/suspected-killer-five-breaks-jail

[Admin_01]

http://www.prensa.com/in_english/recompensa-informacion-Gilberto-Ventura-Ceballos_21_4660243936.html

[Moderator_02]

Quote

Escape artist on Interpol most wanted list

Posted on January 21, 2017 in Panama

Gilberto Ventura Ceballos

Post Views: 131

GILBERTO VENTURA CEBALLOS,  who has a $50,000 reward on his head  since his escape from La Joyita prison on December 28, is now on Interpol’s most wanted list.

He was one of those involved in the kidnapping and murder of five young people of Asian descent in La Chorrera,  five years ago

In 2011, Ventura was arrested by the Dominican Republic Police and extradited to Panama, as implicated in the death of  the five Panamanian youths between 2010 and 2011.

He was caught in the Andrés district , in Boca Chica in Santo Domingo, submerged in  a tank full of water to try to evade police. He had dyed his hair and erased his fingerprints.

The fugitive, was  involved in the crime along with another Dominican, José Alcibíades Méndez, who buried the victims in the garden of his house in La Chorrera.

Because of his escape record he should  have been in a more secure pavilion said the former director of the Penitentiary System.

In 2004, Ventura fled a prison in the Dominican Republic where he was in prison for the kidnapping of a Chinese merchant.

The suspect also used and passports with the identities of Fermín Antonio Taveras Ramírez and Ángel Betancourt.

The  Panama National Police has offered a reward of $50,000. For information leading to his arrest.

http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/escape-artist-interpol-wanted-list

[Moderator_02]

Quote

Key suspects missing in multi-murder trial

Posted on April 7, 2017 in Panama

 

Relatives of murdered students

Post Views: 121

 THE TRIAL of  Gilberto Ventura Ceballos and 11 other people, linked to the alleged kidnapping torture and murder of five university students in Panama West, will be on May 2 at 10:00 a.m.

Ventura Ceballos Ventura Ceballos, who had been detained since January 2012, escaped from  La Joyita prison on Dec. 28 and the whereabouts of Inés Magalis Torres Flores, are also unknown.

The hearing is for  the events leading to the deaths of Jessenia Loo Kan, Yong Jian Wu, Samy Zeng Chen, Joel Mauricio Liu Wong and Georgina del Carmen Lee, between 2010 and 2011.

Charged with  kidnapping, homicide and  money laundering are: Alcibiades Méndez, Ventura Ceballos, Keyla Bendibú, Mario Luis Vega, Kenny Bendibú, Roberto Mariscal and the Dominican Félix del Rosario.

A provisional dismissal was given to Santos Mendoza and Julio Marmolejo, who had been accused of kidnapping and murder.

Inés Torres Flores, Inés Chavarría and Delmira Torres, are accused of money laundering with the money collected for the kidnappings.

 

http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/key-suspects-missing-multi-murder-trial

[Keith Woolford]

Gilberto Ventura Ceballos, the accused killer of 5 Chinese students in La Chorrera, was re-captured today in Jaco Beach, Costa Rica.

He was No.1 on Panama's Most Wanted list.

https://twitter.com/laexitosapanama/status/911275810631421952

 

Edited September 22, 2017 by Keith Woolford

[Brundageba]

Justice...thank God !

[Keith Woolford]

Extradition hearing?

https://twitter.com/EstrellaOnline/status/911362898378870786

Never mind.

 

[Moderator_02]

Quote

Alleged killer of 5 students recaptured

Posted on September 22, 2017 in Panama

Post Views: 254

GILBERT0  Ventura Ceballos, accused of the kidnapping and murder of five university students in La Chorrera was recaptured in Costa Rica on Friday, September 22.

He escaped from La Joyita prison Dec 28.  after being detained since January  2012.

Ventura Ceballos

Ventura Ceballos is accused of the alleged abduction and murder of five Chinese-Panamanian students in La Chorrera between 2010 and 2011.

Security Minister Alexis Bethancourt, accompanied by National Police Director  Omar Pinzón, told a press conference that Ventura Ceballos, a Dominican, was captured with the cooperation of authorities in the Dominican Republic and Costa Rica. Pinzon said the police forces worked as one.

The fugitive was captured in the Central Pacific sector of Costa Rica, in a tourist area close to the city of San José.

 

http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/alleged-killer-5-students-recaptured

[Moderator_02]

Quote

Multi murder suspect in max security

Posted on September 24, 2017 in Panama

 

Ventura with heavily armed escort

Post Views: 223

PRISON ESCAPEE and accused kidnapper and killer of five university students Gilberto Ventura Ceballos is back in Panama in a maximum security cell after being recaptured in Costa Rica on Friday, September 22.

Ventura,  who had a $50,000 price tag on his head,  has a record of escapes in his native Dominican Republic and Panama authorities were criticized when he escaped from La Joyita prison on December 28. The location of his latest cell has not been revealed.

The Attorney of Primary Care, Julio Villarreal, said that they have not yet had contact with any defense of the detainee as his previous lawyer resigned.

The first prosecutor against organized crime, David Mendoza, said that Ventura was being prosecuted for the escape case under the Accusatory Criminal System, which will likely be heard this week.

The cases for the kidnappings and homicides of the five young Panamanians of Chinese origin, some six years ago  are pending in the Superior Court of Justice, under the Inquisitorial  System

 

http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/multi-murder-suspect-max-security

[Moderator_02]

Quote

Escape trial of five student murders suspect suspended

Posted on June 22, 2018 in Panama

 

Ventura after his recapture

Post Views: 145

 

The court hearing for the escape from La Joya  jail of a prisoner awaiting trial for the kidnapping and murder of five Chinese students was suspended on Friday June  22.

The suspension of the hearing was because  the resignation of one of the defense lawyers in a case involving seven others. The new hearing date was set for July 13.

Gilberto Ventura Ceballos escaped in Dec. 2016 and had a $50,000 price tag on his head when he was recaptured in Costa Rica nine months later.

He  has a record of escapes in his native Dominican Republic.

The cases for the kidnappings and homicides of the five young Panamanians of Chinese origin,in La Chorrera  some seven years ago  are pending in the Superior Court of Justice

Apart from Ventura Ceballos, seven other people have to face the audience over his escape.

 

http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/escape-trial-of-five-student-murders-suspect-suspended

[Moderator_02]

Quote

50-years jail for kidnap-murder gang

Posted on July 9, 2018 in Panama

 

Ventura recaptured

Post Views: 164

 

Two Dominicans,  who masterminded the kidnapping and murder of five university students in La Chorrera eight years ago have been sentenced to 50 years imprisonment. Similar sentences were imposed on two of their collaborators.

The students were all from  Chinese families who received recorded appeals for ransom from their children before they were killed between 2010 and 2011.

The sentences on Alcibiades Méndez aka  “José Celular”  and Gilberto Ventura Ceballo were handed down by  The Second Superior Court on Monday, July 9, and will bring partial closure to the Chinese community  which has been protesting  stalled justice for yeara

Ventura who was 35 at the time of the murders escaped the maximum security pavilion in La Joyita penitentiary center on, December 28, 2016, and was recaptured by Interpol in Costa Rica after nine months on the run with a $50,000 price tag on his head. Cataloged as a dangerous man, he used false cedulas and passports with the identities of Fermín Antonio Taveras Ramírez and Ángel Betancourt.

In addition, Keyla Gisselle Bendibú Salazar and Mario Luis Vega were each sentenced  to  50 years as secondary accomplices to homicide and primary accomplices of the kidnapping of 3 of the 5 young people.

Kenny Bendibú Salazar and Roberto Mariscal Rodríguez were sentenced to 15 years as secondary accomplices to homicide and were acquitted of kidnapping.

 

http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/50-years-jail-for-kidnap-murder-gang

[Moderator_02]

Quote

Killer of 5 students serving 50 years breaks out again

Posted 04/02/2020

Dominican  prisoner Gilberto Ventura Ceballos serving 50 years for the kidnapping, torture, and murder of five La Chorrera students of Chinese descent is on the loose again after escaping from La Joya prison on Tuesday, February 4.

A massive police hunt is underway and an official investigation has opened to determine persons linked to the breakout.

Early reports said that that his escape was detected a 7:35 am on Tuesday,  during the morning count of inmates.

Ventura Ceballos - who escaped for the first time on December 28, 2016 - would have escaped from the prison at dawn on Tuesday. He was recaptured in Costa Rica after his last breakout.

He was in sector C of courtyard 3 and in cell 21 of La Mega Joya, whose security is in charge of the National Police.

The Police have activated checkpoints in all areas of the country and a helicopter search has been activated.

Ventura Ceballos was recaptured on September 29, 2017, in Costa Rica and in 2018 he was sentenced to 50 years in prison His victims were: Yessenia Argelis Loo, Yong Lian Wu, Samy Zeng Chen, Georgina del Carmen Lee and Mauricio Liu Wong. They were kidnapped and killed between 2010 and 2011.

 

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/killer-of-5-students-serving-50-years-breaks-out-again

[Moderator_02]

Quote

Cops said involved in multi-killer’s jail break - $30,000 reward

Posted 04/02/2020

As The National Police announced on  Tuesday, February 4 a $30,000 reward for information leading to the capture Gilberto Ventura Ceballos, who escaped from the La Mega Joya prison on  Monday night, fingers were already pointing to members of the force.

According to the authorities, "there are indications recorded in the security cameras to the fact that in the escape  of Ventura Ceballos there was the participation of police officers assigned to the security of the prison."

National Police, Director  Jorge Miranda, said that an orange alert was already requested from Interpol to capture Ventura Ceballos, who in December 2016 escaped from La Joyita.

The Panamanian authorities also requested the cooperation of the Costa Rican authorities, because Ventura Ceballos was captured in September 2017 in a coastal area of Costa Rica.

Three investigations have been opened, one judicial and the other administrative. In addition, the Public Ministry began an ex officio investigation to determine how the prisoner could escape.

Sector C where cell 21 was, which was occupied by Ventura Ceballos, is equipped with a video surveillance system, which will determine the conditions in which the break occurred.

The prison authorities l noticed the escape during the Tuesday morning count of the inmates.

Ventura Ceballos - who first escaped on December 28, 2016 - would have escaped at 10:30 pm. He wan sector C of courtyard 3 and in cell 21 of the prison a, whose security is in charge of the National Police.

 

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/cops-said-involved-in-multi-killers-jail-break-30000-reward-1

[Moderator_02]

Quote

OPINION: Panama’s Disgraced Security  System

Gilberto Ventura on the run

Posted 05/02/2020

Gilberto Ventura Ceballos did not escape the maximum-security pavilion of the Neuvoa Joya. No, it was police corruption that opened the doors of the prison wide. After eight months in power, the current government has no excuses.

Nor can it blame the previous administration or the civil custodians of this shameful escape. The fact is the total responsibility of the National Police. The Minister of Security has said that he is willing to face the National Assembly on security policies, but the truth is that the deputies of his party and allies - who are the legislative majority - have jealously protected him.

After 15 years of generous budgets and exaggerated salary increases, state security forces are far from controlling crime and corruption. The escape of this multiple murderer, in which there are indications of the collaboration of police officers, cannot be investigated by other members of this body since it has lost the confidence of the citizens. President Laurentino Cortizo must send a strong message and make decisions that restore leadership in the state security forces and restore confidence to citizens. Improvisation is unsustainable and the consequences catastrophic.  - LA PRENSA, Feb.5

 

https://www.newsroompanama.com/opinion/opinion-panamas-disgraced-security-system

[Moderator_02]

Quote

Reward for  escaped killer capture  raised to $50.000

Posted 05/02/2020

As the public awaited announcements of heads rolling in Panama’s security hierarchy the National Police (PN)  stepped forward with news of an increased reward for information leading to the arrest of escaped prisoner Gilberto Ventura serving a 50-year sentence for kidnapping and killing  5 students and another 5 years for a previous escape.

The authorities have issued an orange alert to Interpol after his escape evasion from the high security  "C" sector of La Nueva Joya.

Meanwhile, intense operations are carried out in different parts of the country and at least three police officers were suspended from their positions and are under investigation for alleged participation in the escape. The Security Minister called for their “dishonorable” discharge, while his own fate remained in the balance.

 

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/reward-for-escaped-killer-capture-raised-to-50000

[Moderator_02]

Quote

President ousts two ministers over prison escape

Posted 05/02/2020

President Laurentino Cortizo showed the promised iron hand for government backsliders on Wednesday afternoon, February 5, with the announcement that  Rolando Mirones he Minister of Public Security, has presented his resignation.

At the same time  Carlos Romero will leave the post of Government Minister, Cortizo announced, from the Presidency.

Commissioner Juan Manuel Pino Forero, until now director of the National Aeronaval Service ( Senan ) will replace Morones.  He took office immediately after Cortrizo’s televised  announcement

Ramón Nonato López, current deputy director of the Senan, will become Director.

The president did not say who Romero's replacement will be but he promised the announcement will soon.

This is Cortizo's first public intervention since the escape of Gilberto Ventura Ceballos escape  from La Nueva Joya  prison on Monday night was known Ventura was serving  50 years for the murder of five young Chorreranos of Chinese descent  and an additional fuve years for a previous escape

 

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/president-ousts-two-ministers-over-prison-escape

[Uncle Doug]

I wonder how Gilberto Ventura was able to enlist the  police officers to aid his escape.  It was a bribe, of course, but I wonder how he could accomplish that  in a high-security prison.

[Ricco]

There are many questions one can ask.

With what funds did Gilberto use to bribe or was it done quid pro quo?  Is he a rich man who needs to kidnap people?

How much bribe can he provide?

If the victims were Americans or Panamanians, would the corrupt accomplices have agreed to let him escape?

Where lies the moral standard if a proven killer is allowed to leave in return for monetary gain or was it for cerveza?

 

[Brundageba]

1 hour ago, Uncle Doug said:

I wonder how Gilberto Ventura was able to enlist the  police officers to aid his escape.  It was a bribe, of course, but I wonder how he could accomplish that  in a high-security prison.

I guess the same way the fire arms got in and all hell broke loose inside there with gang warfare.  Glad to see the President promptly fired some officials  ( right after the official had  fired some men under him.  ) Somehow some money got into the pocket that opened the jail door.   $50 grand is a lot of money for a reward.  They want that escapee pretty bad I'd say.

Edited February 6, 2020 by Brundageba

[Moderator_02]

Quote

Police  step up search in jail area for escaped killer

Posted 07/02/2020

Operations to recapture escaped multi-killer Gilberto Ventura Ceballos have intensified in sectors near the La Nueva Joya  Prison in Pacora which he exited on Monday, Febr3uary with the alleged connivance of police staff.

 National Police director, Jorge Miranda, said on Friday that they have made that decision because they have information that Ventura Ceballos with a $30,000 reward on his head is hiding in the area.

In addition, the fugitive could have help from some people to hide in the area near the prison, in the Pacora district.

Miranda said that the knowledge of the authorities is that Ventura Ceballos has not left the country.

Ventura Ceballos was sentenced to 50 years in prison for the kidnapping and murder of five university students in La Chorrera between 2010 and 2011 and an additional 5 years dor a previous escape.

According to preliminary investigations, the fugitive jumped the fences of the prison and escaped the night of Monday, February 3.

The first time he escaped from La Joyita was on December 28, 2016. He was recaptured in Costa Rica in September 2017.

In 2018, the fugitive was sentenced to 50 years in prison for the kidnapping and killing of five university students from La Chorrera, between 2010 and 2011.

 

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/police-step-up-search-in-jail-area-for-escaped-killer

[Moderator_02]

Quote

Escaped multi-killer  recaptured in Chiriqui

Posted 13/02/2020

Multi-murderer  Gilberto Ventura Ceballos whose escape from a top security cell in the La Joyita prison complex led tp the axing of two cabinet ministers and the suspension of at least three National Police lieutenants was recaptured on Thursday, February 13, in the community of El Salado, located in the east of Chiriquí.

He had been on the run for 10 days.

"Panama, we have Ventura Ceballos!", Tweeted President Laurentino Cortizo.

A $50,000   reward was offered for information leading to his recapture.

 “We had advanced intelligence work. These are information that we cannot share with the public because we knew the quality of the subject and the characteristics that he had regarding the way of concealment, and we could not afford to lose the work we were developing, ”added Miranda.

Ventura Ceballos was sentenced to 50 years in prison for the kidnapping and murder of five university students in La Chorrera between 2010 and 2011. He was sentenced to an additional five years for a previous escape after being recaptured in  Costa Rica.

The  latest escape of Ventura Ceballos led to the resignation of   Minister of Security Rolando Mirones and the dismissal of Carlos Romero from the Minister of Government portfolio

 

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/escaped-mult-killer-recaptured-in-chiriqui

[Uncle Doug]

This is a seriously bad guy, and it would have been okay with me if they had not captured him alive. You know that he will probably escape again.

[BD]

I agree. A really bad dude. How long will it be before he escapes again?