SAN JOSÉ, Costa Rica – A Costa Rican man has been accused of coordinating the murder of Argentine folk singer Facundo Cabral and wounding his Nicaraguan companion last month.

Alejandro Jiménez González is suspected of not only masterminding the attack but heading an organized crime syndicate that runs a money laundering operation throughout Central America, Costa Rican Attorney General Jorge Chavarría told reporters.

The ambush of Cabral, 74, and businessman Henry Fariñas, who survived, may have been the result of the theft of illegal drug money. Fariñas was driving the car Cabral was riding in when they were attacked.

Authorities are searching for Jiménez, who they said may be in Panama.

Three suspects wanted in connection with the attack have been arrested in Guatemala.

[The Associated Press (Costa Rica), 10/08/2011; Prensa.com (Panama), 12/08/2011]