The long, ongoing struggle of Jacob Ostreicher, an American businessman detained for nearly two years in Bolivia without formal charges, will be the focus of a congressional hearing Monday held by Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04), chairman of the House panel that oversees international human rights. 

    Ostreicher, an American businessman imprisoned without formal charges for over 18 months in Bolivia, was finally let out of prison on bail on December 18, 2012, but cannot leave the country.

    American actor and activist Sean Penn, who has been active in seeking Ostreicher’s release, will be testifying. Penn has met with Ostreicher in Bolivia and attended court proceedings.

    Smith has twice traveled to Bolivia to attempt to help Ostriecher, of Brooklyn, N.Y., and held two congressional hearings that addressed the case. No evidence of any wrongdoing was ever presented in the case. Jacob has been left weak and frail from his ordeal, developing symptoms of Parkinson disease during his imprisonment. He has lost the entirety of the rice farming business he operated. More than a dozen government officials have been arrested on allegations of extortion related to the case, but the government is giving no indication as to when – if ever – they plan to give Ostreicher his freedom.

Who:               Congressman Chris Smith, Chairman of the House’s human rights subcommittee, other members of the subcommittee. Attending the hearing will be the wife, daughter and other family members of Jacob Ostreicher from New York and New Jersey. Testifying will be:

                        Sean Penn, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, J/P Haitian Relief Organization

What:              Press conference on Jacob Ostreicher’s unjust imprisonment in Bolivia.

When:             Monday, May 20 @ 3 p.m. 

Where:            Rayburn House Office Building, Room 2172 (first floor)