25 81. On August 28, 1997, the National Civil Police reopened the investigation into the homicide of Ramón Mauricio García Prieto, in accordance with orders issued on August 26, 1997 by the Ministry for Public Safety (“Ministerio de Seguridad Pública”). Likewise, the PNC initiated an investigation into the alleged threats and harassment suffered by José Mauricio García Prieto Hirlemann, Gloria Giralt de García Prieto and Carmen Alicia Estrada.43 82. On September 16, 1997, José Mauricio García Prieto Hirlemann, father of Ramón Mauricio García Prieto, gave a statement to the PNC in which he provided detailed information about the existence, possible identity, and physical characteristics of a third material author of his son’s homicide.44 Likewise, he reported the possible participation of intellectual authors of the events. On this issue, he mentioned an incident which began in March of 1987 as a result of a real estate deal with Roberto Hernán Puente Rivas, in which Mauricio Ernesto Vargas Valdés had participated, concerning a property belonging to the García Prieto Giralt family. He also mentioned a series of “threats and surveillance” of which he allegedly had been victim. On September 17, 1997, Gloria Giralt de García Prieto, mother of Ramón Mauricio García Prieto, testified before the PNC that she had knowledge, by way of a third individual, of the identity of those who participated in her son’s homicide. Likewise, she detailed a series of “threats and surveillance”, which occurred subsequent to the death of her son.45 83. On January 19, 1998, Carmen Alicia Estrada recognized Julio Ismael Ortiz Díaz as one of the perpetrators of the homicide of Ramón Mauricio García Prieto when asked to identify the guilty party out of a series of photographs.46 On January 20, 1998, the PNC issued an order for the administrative detention of Mr. Díaz Ortiz, who was captured on January 23, 1998.47 On January 23, 1998, investigators submitted a prosecutorial investigation report and that same day the Thirteenth 43 Cf. Memorandum No. 4990 from the general director of the National Civil Police of August 28, 1997, judicial file number 110/98 (exhibits to the application, exhibit 2, volume 1, page 761) and record of the Ministry for Public Safety of August 26, 1997, judicial file number 110/98 (exhibits to the application, exhibit 2, volume 1, page 762 and 763). 44 Cf. Statement by José Mauricio García Prieto Hirlemann in which he testified before the National Civil Police that neither he, his son, nor his family had experienced any problems or known enemies with anyone with the exception of Mr. Roberto Hernán Puente Rivas and Mr. Mauricio Vargas. The situation with these two men arose from a deal between the two men José Mauricio García Prieto Hirlemann for the sale of real estate owned by the latter. Because the deal fell through, José Mauricio García Prieto Hirlemann retook possession of his property. Following threats to and surveillance by unknown subjects of José Mauricio García Prieto Hirlemann, Roberto Hernán Puente Rivas, accompanied by Mr. Mauricio Vargas expressed to him that “for everything to return to normal, you will have to pay us three hundred thousand Colones.”, judicial file number 110/98 (exhibits to the application, exhibit 2, volume 1, pages 791 to 796). 45 Cf. Testimony of September 17, 1997 by Gloria Giralt de Garcia Prieto before the Department of Investigation of Organized Crime, judicial file number 110/98 (exhibits to the application, exhibit 2, volume 1, page 797); and testimony by Mauricio Garcia Prieto Hirlemann, supra note 44. 46 Cf. Record of photograph recognition exercise of January 19, 1998, judicial file number 110/98 (exhibits to the application, exhibit 2, volume 3, page 1290). 47 Cf. Administrative detention order of January 20, 1998 by the Department of Investigation of Organized Crime, judicial file number 110/98 (exhibits to the application, exhibit 2, volume 3, page 1301); and document No. 026DICO/98 of the National Civil Police, judicial file number 110/98 (exhibits to the application, exhibit 2, volume 3, page 1337).