OK Gary...don't get any ideas... :) From Drudge:

E-mailer Arrested for Banking Panic

Thursday, July 1, 1999; 7:56 p.m. EDT

BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) -- A man who fired off a series of e-mails asserting the financial instability of a bank -- triggering a run on the institution -- was arrested for creating financial panic, authorities said Wednesday.

Jose Omar Olaya, 24, allegedly sent numerous messages from a Hotmail e-mail account on May 27 to private individuals and employees of Davivienda Bank urging all account holders to withdraw their funds in light of a pending government intervention.

Olaya's e-mail campaign caused a flood of second- and third-hand e-mails, exponentially spreading the misinformation, authorities said.

Panicked account holders withdrew $11.4 million from the bank in a single day, forcing the government to lend Davivienda some reserves.

``It is the first case of inciting economic panic via the Internet in Colombian history,'' said Tulio Gomez, chief of the special unit on electronic information of the state security agency, or DAS.

Olaya's alleged actions broke a law against inciting economic panic and are punishable by up to eight years in jail, said Gomez.

Olaya was arrested Wednesday at his home in the Pacific port of Buenaventura.

-- a (a@a.a), July 01, 1999

Answers

" ... man who fired off a series of e-mails asserting the financial instability of a bank -- triggering a run on the institution -- was arrested for creating financial panic ... Panicked account holders withdrew $11.4 million from the bank in a single day ...

" ... first case of inciting economic panic via the Internet in ... history ... broke a law against inciting economic panic ... punishable by up to eight years in jail ... Olaya was arrested ... at his home ... "

-- can that happen (inUSA@laws.tous?), July 01, 1999.

they'll have a special cell for Y2K doomers ... we'll celebrate the rollover shackled with Gary North and Paul Milne ... rice 'n beans 'n hog-tied fundamental lickings all around ... WHERE WILL _YOU_ BE AT OH OH

-- banks are good (noproblem@whatso.ever), July 01, 1999.

11.4 million! Man, back when I was cashing out, I could barely get Wachovia to cough up $20K!! (I had to settle for $10K cash, and a $10K cashiers check to me, which I cashed at another branch the next day.)

I have heard that lots of U.S. greenbacks are alive and well in foreign countries. It would be interesting to know if this is the currency that was used. Anyone know regarding Columbia?

-- Jack (jsprat@eld.net), July 01, 1999.

I never e-mailed ANYONE. Just some random thoughts placed on the World-wide web...that's all. I kid around alot, nobody ever takes me seriously anyway. WJC and I go waaaay back, just ask him, he'll tell ya. Why me and Hillary were canning stew together just last week! They're thinking about putting their legal-fees fund back into the bank, too!

-- Will continue (farming@home.com), July 01, 1999.

Will continue,

I take you seriously, ...well most of the time, you do get your shorts bunched occasionally.

Shit, who's suprised that Columbia would stoop to this? Our own group of Jack Booted thuggs, under the direction of KKKlinton, are well on thier way to the same thing here in the "Good Old USA". Our king and queen are both egomaniac-control freaks. F**k'um!

-- pissed off (midwestmike_@hotmail.com), July 01, 1999.

Mike: Y2K WEDGIE? moi?

-- Will continue (farming@home.com), July 01, 1999.

Yes, Will continue, rumor has it that you are the ringleader of a Gang Of Four that goes around assaulting helpless old pollyanna trolls, and causing all kinds of mischief. Bad! Bad doomer!

-- King of Spain (madrid@aol.com), July 01, 1999.

Ringleader? NO. Member? YES. Rumor? FACT. Doomer? HOIIIILY POSSIBLE.

-- Will continue (farming@home.com), July 01, 1999.

Yeah, the polly trolls have a laugh, but I don't think she intended them too.

-- Pollys Are A Dime A Dozen (Dime@Lady.here), July 01, 1999.

The Columbian financial system must be awfully shaky for an unknown user on the internet to cause a bank run. I have heard that Latin America outside of Brazil and Mexico is still deteriorating economically. I guess that Klinton was only interested in bailing out the big boys, who get all of the news. The small fry are like the U.S. farmers. They are left to fend for themselves.

-- Mr. Adequate (mr@adequate.com), July 02, 1999.

Forget Mr. A, this is a boat load of fun!....Headin for "Brave Heart", wanna keep this good feelin.....

-- Mike (midwestmike_@hotmail.com), July 02, 1999.

An honest banking system has no fear of bank runs or other manifestations of lack of "consumer confidence." This applies worldwide -- U.S. or Colombia.

As this and other banking systems are fundamentally fraudulent, dishonest, manipulative, is it any wonder the banksters are a bit touchy when someone bad-mouths them? In the U.S., with only 1% or 2% of demand deposits available in "cash" (which itself is fundamentally worthless), is it any wonder the banksters are nervous about "excessive withdrawals" (i.e., bank runs.)?

If everyone wanted their balances in cash, everyone would get just 1% or 2%. Or, only the first two in a line of 100 would get all their money (on average). If you're number 3+, you're S.O.L.

Withdraw early and withdraw often. (Inspired by Chicago saying about voting).

-- A (A@AisA.com), July 02, 1999.

If U.S. banks weren't teetering on the brink already, why would they put so much pressure on the folks at Kia ( car ad ) and Poloroid to pull their T.V. commercials? These were humerous ads, not doom & gloom types.

-- (Minuteman@Concord.com), July 02, 1999.

Bankers don't HAVE a sense of humor.

-- Will continue (farming@home.com), July 02, 1999.

8 days in jail,and 8 days of ass raping and beatings.columbia can be a harsh place

-- zoobie (zoobiezoob@yahoo.com), July 02, 1999.

zoo, ouch. thanks for sharing...ithink.

a standing (cause i can't sit) kiss to ya.

.

-- corrine l (corrine@iwaynet.net), July 02, 1999.