Gringo Jailed For Not Paying January $10,916 in Monthly Child Support & ‘Pensión’ For One Six Year Old Daughter

The 68 year old U.S. citizen and the operator of an Escazu “luxury restaurant” Jorge Pita was jailed in Costa Rica on 6th February 2014 after not paying the January payment for child support and pensión.

Pita stated that the monthly payment of nearly US$11,000 was “exorbitant” and that since he split up with the mother of his daughter in July 2013, his Escazu restaurant business has declined and that this “is my only source of income.”

According to Banco Nacional de Costa Rica this ¢5,6 millones is the equivalent of US$10,916 per month (5,600,000/513=10,916)

Although the payment is supposedly “proporcional”, the $10,916 monthly payment is equivalent to paying the minimum salary in Costa Rica to about 20 people so it does seem excessive.

If this was 20 times the average minimum monthly salary in the U.S. of $1,160 the man would be paying US$23,200 per month.

• Costa Rica 516 dólares.
• Argentina 475 dólares.
• Chile 372 dólares.
• Uruguay 300 dólares.
• Guatemala 273 dólares.
• El Salvador 224 dólares.
• México 147 dólares

What’s also disturbing is the fact that this man was jailed less than 2 weeks after failing to pay the January payment.

Our thanks to our friends at La Nación – Costa Rica’s largest and most influential Spanish circulation newspaper for their permission to summarize their articles and use their graphics.

Andrew Makarik

to@welovecostarica.com

Andrew Makarik is the main editor of WeLoveCostaRica, a fan of this sunny country. He is also a loving husband and a has a lovely daughter. By being a devoted family man and the biggest Costa Rica fan, he wants to make more people feel at home there. WeLoveCostaRica unites people and helps them find new home or a new travel destination. This website is a friendly community where everyone can find not only information, but also new friends and travel pals. Andrew is also passionate about IT and programming, so he himself maintains a friendly atmosphere in this cozy environment of WeLoveCostaRica.com.