Fugitive May Be Targeting Tourists In Panama
(costaricapages.com) Panamanian police are warning the public about an escaped criminal that may have his eye on tourists visiting this country. 23-year old Jonathan Oda has a lengthy criminal record, and a number of his alleged crimes have to do with tourists visiting Panama.
Oda is one of the six inmates that escaped from La Joyita jail in Panama City more than a week ago. Police say Oda, who goes by the nickname “Machete”, is considered the leader of a gang of robbers that target tourists. Though police know about Oda’s history, this wily criminal is doing his best to stay out of police custody.
Oda was detained in the public jail in Santiago, Veraguas in early 2006 but was somehow able to escape. Police captured him a year and a half later, but he once again escaped police custody after being taken to a police substation. Two months after that escape, he was recaptured after a brawl, but once again escaped from a police substation. His escape from La Joyita Penitentiary on October 20th is now his fourth successful escape from police custody.
Though this story could easily turn in to “What is wrong with the security at police substations and jails?”, more importantly, police have linked Jonathan Oda to at least 26 of the 67 robberies reported this year to the Tourist Police.
By no means should this be alarming, just be a little more vigilant if you are currently in Panama.
