Legal

Comptroller rift with National Assembly grows larger

The comptroller of the Republic, Federico Humbert, yesterday ordered the total suspension of the payments of the 080 payroll, in a new episode of the struggle between the Comptroller General of the Republic and the National Assembly. This form had been raised from $ 4,000 to $ 30,000 per month …

Legal

“Buko Millionario” entangles Martinelli son

The Anti-Corruption Public Prosecutor’s Office charged six people for the alleged commission of crimes against the public administration , as part of the investigation carried out by that office for alleged irregularities in the televised bingo Buko Millonario contract. Supreme Court endorses proceedings in Buko Millionaire case Case Buko Millonario …

Legal

Martinelli legal case: UPDATE

THE DEFENSE OF MARTINELLI OUTLINED THE POLITICAL ARGUMENT BEFORE JUDGE EDWIN TORRES AND EVEN BEFORE ANOTHER COURTS IN THE UNITED STATES. THE PROBABLE CAUSE IS SUSTAINED ‘ AT HIS JUDGMENT, WHY DOES RICARDO MARTINELLI DECIDE TO WAIVE HIS APPEAL TO EXTRADITION? There is a confusion. Mr. Martinelli has never appealed the extradition …

Legal

Former National Assistance Program director admits to illegal benefits

The ex-director of the now defunct National Assistance Program (PAN) Rafael Guardia Jaén betrayed Adolfo Chichi De Obarrio, former private secretary of former president Ricardo Martinelli. + info They support agreement to Rafael Guardia Jaén in case of Christmas bags He said that he received economic benefits through him, who …

Crime

Here we Go!! Martinelli defense will focus on actions of Ambassador Feeley of US.

The strategy of the new defense team of former President Ricardo Martinelli is to remove the process of telephone jabs-for which Panama has requested his extradition-from the legal plan and center it on a supposed persecution on the part of the current president, Juan Carlos Varela. The lawyers Inna Shapovalov …

Crime

State of Panamanian Prisons?? Don’t get arrested!!

Currently, our country’s prisons house more than 15,000 people deprived of their liberty. The state of the same does not facilitate reintegration into society. It is a fact that in our country some prisons, such as La Joya and La Joyita , present problems because they do not cover the …

Human Interest

Former Public Safety Minister throws support to Martinelli letter

The former Minister of Public Safety José Raúl Mulino , justified this Monday, May 28, the letter of former President Ricardo Martinelli – currently a prisoner in Miami – where he confesses that he followed the instructions of the US intelligence agency and that he served 100% of the interests …

Crime

Prosecution continues ramp up against Mossack Fonseca

Seven other people were investigated and investigated by the Second Prosecutor’s Office against Organized Crime, which accused them of the alleged commission of the crime of money laundering in the investigation that seeks to establish the possible nexuses of the Mossack Fonseca (MF) firm and the management of money “of …

Legal

National Police Director retires amidst allegations

The general director of the National Police, Omar Pinzón, will leave his post from this Friday, June 1 and will take refuge in his retirement. Alonso Vega Pino is the new deputy director of the National Police Pinzón since last year was retired, however, remained in the institution, because according …

Crime

Prosecutor’s Office reveals massive spike in Corruption Cases filed

by James “JB” Bryson These stories do and will continue to dominate the PON.com site, as until we as both true Panamanians as well as the ex-pats that now call this country home, see a decrease in the massive amounts of “pay to play” incidents that occur in a country …

Crime

Comptroller audit reveals yet more evidence of alleged crime

The deputies Manuel Cohen (Herrera) and Dana Castañeda (Coclé) accumulate the greater amount of money exchanged in cash or deposited in private banks of funds coming from their circuits (2009-2014), according to an audit of the Comptroller General of the Republic to the communal boards. For this, the deputies used …

"JB"

Martinelli team preps for return to Panama, much more than meets the eye. STAY TUNED

by James “JB” Bryson I am quite fascinated with the whole scenario around the multiple yearlong detention, subsequent firing of his attorneys, and the pending return of former president and polarizing figure of Ricardo Martinelli. I have always been of the opinion that Varela has been opportunistic, and tries so …

Legal

How the extradition process will unfold.

Assuming that the dismissals of Ricardo Martinelli’s attorneys have been presented in the United States to the Court of Appeals of Atlanta, this entity must accept the waiver of the habeas corpus appeal, and the waiver of the opposition to the appeal of the bail filed by the federal prosecutors …

Legal

Martinelli defense changes to hiding in plain sight, not hindering extradition.

Former President Ricardo Martinelli “voluntarily” withdrew his appeals to US courts to facilitate his extradition to Panama from Miami , where he has been detained since June 12, 2017. This is stated in the motion that his lawyer John Byrne presented late last afternoon before the Federal Court of Appeals …

Crime

Financial Pacific pyramid case continues with questionable $8.5 million loan satisfaction

Without a visible bank refinancing certification, Riccardo Francolini – who was benefited yesterday with a bail of $ 100 thousand in the Financial Pacific case – paid a loan of $ 8.5 million in 9 months . The money was requested on loan to buy a ” Plug & Grind …

Legal

Martinelli will not obstruct extradition process

Former President Ricardo Martinelli , who has been detained in Miami since June 12, has decided not to obstruct the process of his extradition to Panama. The bail hearing for Martinelli will be on July 19 in Miami Decision to grant bail to Martinelli, temporarily suspended ‘There are reasons to …

Crime

Yet another arrest in Financial Pacific pyramid. Posted yesterday on PON.com

The seventh anticorruption prosecutor, Leyda Sáenz, ordered yesterday the preventive detention of merchant Riccardo Francolini for alleged anomalies in transactions made through the Jal Offshore company in the Financial Pacific (FP) brokerage house. Francolini, who is being investigated for allegedly committing the crime of money laundering, was transferred to the …

Crime

New allegations in case of Mossack-Fonseca.

The Second Special Prosecutor’s Office against Organized Crime announced on Tuesday May 22 that performs nine search proceedings, nine conductions and the respective investigations of ten accused, who have been charged with the alleged commission of the crime of money laundering , as part of the investigation that seeks to …

Crime

Financial Pacific pyramid scheme back in the headlines

A case that occupied the front pages of the media six years ago, the embezzlement to the stock house Financial Pacific, culminated with the phase of allegations that were heard in a preliminary hearing held on Friday in order to determine the responsibility of each of the accused. Judge Johann …

"JB"
1

Bocas Del Toro weekend trip: WTF is happening there?

by James “JB” Bryson Good morning PNO.com visitors. I would hope all had a pleasant weekend. If you checked in last week, I mentioned how a friend and fellow ex pat of mine named “Buddy” made the trek from Panama City to Bocas del Toro this past weekend.  Taking every …

Human Interest

Reprieve denied for former Martinelli secretary in unjustified enrichment case.

The Twelfth Criminal Court denied a request to lift the precautionary measures imposed on a beach house valued at $ 400 thousand, owned by Adolfo Chichi De Obarrio , former private secretary of former President Ricardo Martinelli. Adolfo ‘Chichi’ De Obarrio bought gold bullion for $ 759 thousand They ask …

Legal

Abuse of paid leave exposed within National Assembly

Between last July and April of this year, the day on which the legislative period ended, 63 of the 71 deputies of the National Assembly made use of paid leave to be absent from plenary sessions. Although a good number of deputies qualified their deputies, there were cases in which …

Crime

Another former Latin leader facing crimes, Argentinean President blamed for factory explosion

An Argentine court confirmed this Thursday, May 17, the prosecution without pre-trial detention of former president and senator Carlos Menem , 87, as alleged mastermind of the explosion of a military factory that left seven dead in 1995. The crime for which Menem is accused – as well as the …

Human Interest

AG states National Assembly has “something to hide”.

The Attorney General of the Administration, Rigoberto González , said on Thursday, May 17 that the National Assembly should be an open-door institution and willing to receive the Comptroller’s Office to carry out the corresponding audits, since it is a “high institution” and the of greater reference “in the example …

Crime

More money laundering cases coming into the light

The Seventh Anticorruption Prosecutor’s Office summoned Riccardo Francolini , at 9:00 a.m. today, to make an inquiry statement as part of the investigation into the transfers of money made by Jal Offshore Ltd., through an account of investment I had in the defunct stock house Financial Pacific (FP) . In …

Crime

Former El Slavador president heads to trial in $310 Million Corruption scandal

A judge in El Salvador decided Wednesday to send former President Elías Antonio Saca (2004-2009) and six collaborators to trial, to answer for the deviation of 301 million dollars during his administration, the Prosecutor’s Office said. “The Fourth Court of Instruction of San Salvador sends to trial former President Elías …

Human Interest

Minister of Security under fire for corruption claims by retired police.

An Amparo of Constitutional Guarantees against the Minister of Security, Alexis Betancourt, presented the Association of Retirees of the National Police in the Supreme Court of Justice. “The protection of guarantees states that the Ministry of Security violates due process and effective judicial protection by refusing to give due process …

Human Interest

Drama swirling around possible return of Martinelli.

by James “JB” Bryson I find the story surrounding the possible return of President Martinelli quite fascinating. It plays out like a Shakespearean play right before your eyes. All of the vitriol and self righteous rhetoric coming from Varela, whom all know to be a shill of Martinelli for many, …

Crime

Lawsuit against “Code” reaches Supreme Court

A claim of unconstitutionality against some sentences of article 193 of the single text of the Electoral Code , referring to pre-election public financing for the 2019 general elections, was presented to the Supreme Court of Justice (CSJ) . The lawyer Roberto Ruiz Diaz filed the appeal after considering that …

Labor

Comptroller promises “audit” of National Assembly

The General Comptroller of the Republic notified this Tuesday, May 15, the president of the National Assembly (AN) , Yanibel Ábrego , who will proceed to carry out a “forensic audit” to form 080 , which contains the contracts of the personnel that works for the deputies, and that since …