"JB"

AS PROMISED- PNO.com follow up to EX-PATS GETTING SCREWED ON LAND DEALS IN PANAMA

by James “JB” Bryson In what is not so quickly, becoming the biggest not so hidden secret, is unless you actually work for the Public Registry, ANATI, or barbecue on the weekends with a judge, then quite simply…….DON’T BUY LAND IN PANAMA. Previously I covered and saw first hand with …

Crime

ODEBRECHT- Panama’s favorite contractor,,,,at it again in MEXICO. Offers $18 Million to settle corruption

Brazil’s Odebrecht offered the Mexican state to pay a reparation of $ 18 million – less than a third of the fines imposed in Mexico – and give information about bribery cases in the country, in exchange for being able to hold public works contracts again, a draft of the …

Crime

Everyday MORE on ODEBRECHT!!! When will Panama learn?

“What has happened with Odebrecht is the biggest case of corruption that we can remember,” said Mercedes De Freitas , executive director of Transparencia Venezuela, an organization founded in 2004 as the Venezuelan chapter of Transparency International . He explained that despite the number of countries involved and politicians pointed …

Crime

Hearing suspended for prosecuted Jewish businessmen

The hearing that would be held on Monday, September 17, in the process followed by Mayer Mizrachi Matalón -and four others- for the alleged commission of crimes against the public administration to the detriment of the Government Innovation Authority (AIG) was suspended. Audience today to Mayer Mizrachi and others for …

Bocas del Toro
9

Murder sentence DOUBLED for man who killed US woman near Red Frog Beach in Bocas del Toro.

The Public Prosecutor’s Office (MP) announced on Friday September 7 that the sentence handed down to an 18-year-old boy was changed for the crime of the American Catherine Medalia Johannet, whose body was found on February 5, 2017 in Isla Colón, province of Bocas del Toro. Sentenced to 12 years …

Crime

The reputation of The Republic of Panama in Global Eyes= Corruption

Interesting article in La Estrella today about much of what we report on at PNO.com. Recommended story.  J.B Issues such as the irregular links between Manuel Antonio Noriega and Pablo Escobar, the misnamed Panama Papers, Waked Case, Odebrecht and Martinelli have made the name of Panama in the international arena …

Crime

Punta Pacifica group raided; suspected of running human trafficking ring

In different parts of the country, 15 raids were carried out with the intention of “dismantling” an organization that is dedicated in Panama to the trafficking of migrants. This was reported on the morning of this Tuesday, September 4, by the Public Prosecutor’s Office, which explained that the person in …

Crime

Hearing resumes in bank embezzlement case in Caja de Ahorros

After 8:00 am this July 24, in the Fourteenth Criminal Court, the hearing was resumed for an alleged case of embezzlement in the Savings Bank, in which the anti-corruption prosecutor Tania Sterling asked yesterday to call trial of 16 people, including individuals and former employees . Prosecutor requests trial for …

"JB"
20

BOCAS del TORO PROPERTY SCAMS-

by James “JB” Bryson For the PNO.com readers that both read and commented upon my trip down to Bocas del Toro to accompany a friend dealing with a land deal gone bad, I promised a follow up that was both educational and factual. One of the people that read what was occurring …

Crime

Bribe file removed from Odebrecht case

The Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office lifted the reservation of the bribe file that Odebrecht paid in Panama, sources close to the investigation confirmed. Public Ministry declares reservation on Odebrecht case The reservation was lifted on Saturday, June 2. This Tuesday, the prosecutor’s office resumed taking sworn statements to people related …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

Agriculture

Steps taken to combat illegal fishing operations

Technicians from institutions linked to the fishing sector of Panama gathered at a technical meeting to advance in the fight against illegal fishing and in the implementation of the Agreement on Port State Measures, the Global Registry of fishing vessels, transport, refrigerated and supply, and other international instruments. The country …

Bocas del Toro
1

Missing body found in Changuinola River

The Joint Task Force located the body of a 29-year-old man who was dragged by the waters of the Changuinola River, Bocas del Toro province. + info FTC resumes search for missing man in Changuinola river This was announced by the general director of the National Civil Protection System, José …

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 …

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 …

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 …

Crime

New drama shines light on corrupt Latin America politics

The political drama Illegitimate ( Panama, Colombia ) returns to the national halls. One of its producers, Jacobo Silvera , explains the reason for this return: “We decided to bring back illegitimate because basically the public was cheering him. When we released the film in August of 2017, many people …

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 …

Crime

PETROBAS, and dirty cops scandal dismantled in Brazil

The Brazilian police today dismantled a network of international traffic of narcotics in which participated at least one investigated in the operation Lava Jato, which investigates the vast corruption scandal uncovered in the state oil company Petrobras, informed official sources today. About 90 agents of the Federal Police served eight …

Crime
1

Confession sheds light on bribes under Varela watch

The businessman from Chihuahua, Juan Alexis Rodríguez Sáez, arrived at the Public Prosecutor’s Office to tell other facts that he suddenly remembered while reviewing the social media. All this in the corruption scheme in which allegedly handled bribes for $ 40 million. Rodríguez Sáez, manager of Constructora Rodsa, SA had been …

Crime

Mario Huezo sentenced to prison

The Salvadoran Police arrested Huezo on April 23 in one of the main hotels in the Salvadoran capital The Eleventh Court of Peace of El Salvador decreed today preventive detention and instruction for Mario Huezo, husband of the journalist Karla Turcios, murdered last April 14 in El Salvador. Huezo, formally …