Washington – Actor Sean Penn is urging the U.S. government to pressure Bolivia to free an American businessman jailed there since 2011.
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Penn says international pressure is what Bolivian President Evo Morales needs to free Jacob Ostreicher of New York.
Ostreicher was granted house arrest in December after being jailed 18 months without being charged with any crime. He was arrested in a money laundering case in June 2011 while he was trying to salvage a rice-growing venture.
Penn spoke Monday before a congressional committee looking at Ostreicher’s case.
Republican Rep. Chris Smith of New Jersey says Ostreicher is the victim of a network of people in government who are extorting him and who took away his company.
It’s time for Evo Morales to show some compassion to the Ostreicher family after he stole all his rice and his money. How cruel can you be. It’s time for our president to intervene, This is a pure hostage situation.
This guy is a real mensch! He should be successful in helping our brother in Bolivia!
ma inyan shmitah ezel har Sinai ? what’s the Penn connection ?
I can’t get over this guys good heart the way he cares.
kol hakavod to Sean Penn!
Even a stopped watch is right twice a day