Former Minister arrested for Blue Apple. “As I was saying…….”
The former Minister of Public Works, Federico Pepe Suárez was arrested, on the night of this Friday, October 12, by the National Police in compliance with the driving order issued by the Sixth Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office within the process for money laundering in the case of Blue Apple. They deny …
Relentless Martinelli defense team pushes for yet another nullification of charges
The defense of Ricardo Martinelli, who was president of Panama (2009-2014), insists on requesting the Supreme Court of Justice (CSJ) to declare the case null and therefore its release. According to the defense of Martinelli, and his supporters, the files of the Martinelli case -for supposedly intervening communications- are ‘chimbos’ …
Titling issues coming back into light. Indigenous Panamanians tired of being used by elite? More coming
Members of the National Coordination of Indigenous Peoples of Panama protested, on Thursday morning, at the entrance of the Ministry of Environment, in Albrook. This, they said, to show their rejection of the lack of attention from this institution, in their demands for collective land titling. Marcelo Guerra, one of …
Supreme Court and Department of Justice of Varela have plan for Martinelli- DEATH
by James “JB” Bryson I personally find it very interesting when reading the daily updates that are released about the prosecution of Ricardo Martinelli. It is hard for me to escape the practically incestuous link between Varela and his former boss, and the manner in which he is doing everything …
Martinelli wearing out welcome at El Renacer, transfer being considered.
The disciplinary board of El Renacer prison will meet to take the measures that will be imposed in relation to the case of former President Ricardo Martinelli , who has been detained in a preventive manner in this jail since last June. Martinelli challenges norm; is locked with women New …
CD Party turns attention to Deputies for Roux
A total of 22 of the 24 deputies of Cambio Democrático (CD) will not have to worry about seeking the votes to secure their candidacy in the primaries that the party will hold on September 30. Deputy Cold: business and payroll Mayín Correa will be substitute for Ricardo Martinelli as …
On brink of criminal judgment, Martinelli obtains signatures for mayoral run.
OP ED: by James “JB” Bryson Say what you will of former President Ricardo Martinelli, but the guy has a set of balls on him. Whereas I am equally jaded into Panamanian politics as I was in my own country back in the states, I truly feel that the entirety …
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 …
PRD votes are in: Who’s IN and Who’s OUT
With 100% of the votes counted after the primaries of the Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD), the majority of the current deputies of that party secured their candidacy for the 2019 elections, but three did not obtain the necessary votes to seek their re-election. This is Crescencia Prado , circuit 12-3; …
Defense team of Martinelli lays out plan to fight the punctures case
The defense of former President Ricardo Martinelli announced, in total, 28 testimonial evidence, 87 documentaries, 4 expert opinions and 132 interview documents for them to be evaluated by the judge of guarantees, Jerónimo Mejía, in the hearing of the process that is followed by the exmandatario the punctures. Moltó, Pérez …
Grass Roots social media campaign believed to have had effect on PRD primaries
The citizen campaign ‘#No to re-election’, which encourages not voting for political figures who today hold public office and are sprinkled by some case of corruption, had a partial effect on the results of the primary Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD) . In the recent PRD elections, fourteen of nineteen deputies …
Bail is finally granted to Btesh in Financial Pacific case
The Fourteenth Criminal Court granted a bond not to be detained – for an amount of $ 100 thousand – to Gabriel Gaby Btesh , in the process that is followed for the alleged commission of the crime of money laundering through an account of the company Jal Offshore in …
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 …
Cortizo chosen overwhelmingly for PRD nomination
The Democratic Revolutionary Party ( PRD ) chose its electoral offer on Sunday, September 16, with a view to the general elections on May 5, 2019. Cortizo, the third opportunity of the PRD to return to the Presidency With an overwhelming 66.35% Laurentino Cortizo , 65 years old, was chosen …
Anti-Corruption office refuses to grant protection to Roux in Odebrecht bribe investigation
The Electoral Tribunal rejected a request from the Special Anticorruption Prosecutor’s Office to lift the electoral criminal jurisdiction of the Democratic Change (CD) presidential candidate , Rómulo Roux , within the investigation for the bribes paid by Odebrecht in Panama. Presidential CD cost over one million dollars: TE Roux prevails …
National Assembly needs to hire PR firm because everyone hates their image. LMFAO
The National Assembly (AN), harassed by the scandals of the forms, donations and contracts, has decided to hire a company specializing in communication strategies to try to improve its image. According to Panama Purchase documents, the legislature intends to spend $ 48,800 in the coming months, in the midst of …
Independent candidates collecting the required signatures for primaries
Dimitri Flores , Ana Matilde Gómez and Ricardo Lombana continue leading the list of presidential candidates for free application with more signatures collected. The footprint of the parties in the signatures of the independents Electoral Tribunal rejects more than 77 thousand signatures to independent pre-candidates Flores, Gómez and Lombana lead …
Victims and Witnesses for Prosecution fight bail request for Martinelli
This week will be crucial for the process that is followed by former President Ricardo Martinelli in the Supreme Court of Justice (CSJ) for the punctures. Today, the plenary session of the CSJ must analyze a bail request for release that presented the defense of the exmandatario. In addition, on …
Martinelli defense team requests $250-$500K bond for release
The defense of Ricardo Martinelli requested a bail of release “of between $ 250 thousand to $ 500 thousand” in favor of the former president, alleging his medical condition and that there is no risk of flight or destruction of evidence. Attorneys Martinelli present two other appeals in the Court …
CD Party primaries to be postponed in province of Los Santos
For the 7 of October the primary elections of the Democratic Change party (CD) in the corregimiento head of Guararé, Los Santos were postponed. Presidential CD cost over one million dollars: TE This was announced by Dámaso Díaz, director of the Electoral Organization in the province of Los Santos, who …
Supreme Court rejects Martinelli request for Constitutional Guarantees
The plenary session of the Supreme Court of Justice (CSJ) did not admit, because it was not timely, an amparo of constitutional guarantees to exmandatario Ricardo Martinelli , as part of the investigation that is followed by the supposed commission of the crime of embezzlement in the purchase of dehydrated …
Zulay fires up more rhetoric about her party before the primaries
During the presentation of her government plan, the presidential candidate of the Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD) Zulay Rodríguez identified the one she considers the “anointed one” of the PRD leadership heading for the primary elections on September 16. Pérez Balladares, against re-election of deputies Political campaign in the PRD enters …
Martinelli due in court,,,,,,,this time it’s the wife
The Sixth Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office summoned the former First Lady of the Republic, Marta Linares de Martinelli , on Wednesday, September 5 , to attend an investigation into the Blue Apple case . Blue Apple will remain under reserve They discover two new societies that served as ‘basket’ to receive …
Complaints filed against Martinelli prosecutor
The Commission of Credentials of the National Assembly will give priority today to the processing of three denunciations, that maintains in this instance the magistrate of the Supreme Court of Justice (CSJ), Harry Diaz, although there are other ten denunciations that involve others magistrates of the highest justice corporation. RATIFICATION …
Panamenista Party update: Varlela brother vocal in discontent
The Panameñistas converted the extraordinary convention of yesterday into a political calisthenics prior to the primary elections, in which its main leaders defended the government’s management and launched attacks on the political opposition. The president of the party, José Luis Varela , who is also a deputy of the 6-2 …
Decision on Former Social Development Minister SUV purchase is delayed further
The morning of this Monday, August 27, in the Thirteenth Criminal Court, the hearing of the former Minister of Social Development Guillermo Ferrufino was suspended for the alleged crime against the public administration in the form of corruption of public servants, due to the purchase of a 2013 Toyota Land …
Travel Abuses outlined for National Assembly members: SEE “J.B” Blog
Travel abroad with tickets and per diem included is only one of the privileges of the National Assembly deputies . From January 2015 to June 2018, the National Assembly has paid more than 2 million dollars in travel for deputies and other officials of that body. They have attended meetings …
Comptroller audits reveal egregious abuse of public funds
“It is very sad to see how the funds of all Panamanians were handled in such an irresponsible manner,” said Comptroller Federico Humbert , regarding the audits of payrolls and donations in the National Assembly . Deputy Adolfo Valderrama named nephew who lives in Mexico Deputy Leandro Ávila must render …
Porcell makes her case before Coalition
The Procurator of the Nation, Kenia Porcell , began the morning of this Wednesday, August 22, her appearance before the Council of the National Agreement for Development , to explain the events that led to a confrontation with the interim president of the Supreme Court of Justice ( CSJ), Hernán …
Former First Lady seeks privacy from the press
Five journalists from the newspaper La Prensa attended an audience in the Family Court this morning, after the former first lady Marta Linares de Martinelli filed a claim ” for family protection and the family image “, in which she asks the newspaper to cease and refrain from disclosing and …