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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
“Cambio Democratico” candidate announced for primary election
Rómulo Roux , excanciller and current president of Cambio Democrático (CD) , will seek the presidential candidacy for that political party. The morning of this Tuesday May 29 was formally registered to compete in the primaries of this political party on August 12. José Raúl Mulino formalizes his candidacy to …
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 …
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 …
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 …
Foundation calls for end to “discretionary funds” for Deputies
The Foundation for Development and Citizen Liberty (Panamanian chapter of Transparency International ) asked the Executive “not to devote more discretionary funds for the management of deputies,” and that the Office of the Comptroller General of the Republic be allowed to audit the items used by the National Assembly to …
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 …
World Cup allows Varela to get cozy with Putin
The Foreign Ministry of the Republic clarifies that the next trip of President Juan Carlos Varela to Russia includes a meeting with the President of that country Vladimir Putin , in Moscow , and a “business meeting” to promote investment. Counters $ 100 thousand for Varela’s tour to the World …
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 …
Who could be the NEXT PRESIDENT of PANAMA?
by James “JB” Bryson Who could become the next President of Panama??? So here at PNO.com we get all sorts of questions and inquiries and they range from anything and everything you can imagine relating to Panama. But I have to say hands down the most frequently asked question I …
Varela continues flip flopping over Venezuela.
We hope that President [Nicolás] Maduro, who is still in his current constitutional period, reflect and use these remaining months of his current period to seek peace and democracy and ways of meeting in his people.” Panama ignores election results in Venezuela Nicolás Maduro is re-elected in Venezuela amid controversy …
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 …
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 …
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 …
UPDATE: Varela states Panama will continue to seek diplomacy in light of questioned election
President Juan Carlos Varela announced that Panama will continue with the cordial relationship it maintains with Venezuela, while the constitutional term of President Nicolás Maduro, who was re-elected yesterday, ends. Varela gave statements after the Lima Group announced that it does not know the results of the presidential elections in …
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 …
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 …
Truce brief as Nicaraguans return to streets in protest
Thousands of Nicaraguans marched on Sunday, May 20, peacefully in the capital and other cities while accusing the government of breaching a truce, following an attack on a university, while the complaints continue before the IACHR . Four injured in full truce between government and opponents in Nicaragua IACHR asks …
75% of Panamanians receiving some measure of Social Security assistance.
The population protected by the Social Security Fund (CSS) between 1990 and 2016 went from 1.2 million to 3 million 26,769 people, which represents 75% of the country’s population. The figures, from the CSS and the Comptroller General of the Republic , show that in 26 years the entity went …
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 …
Panama not to recognize landslide Maduro result
Panama ignored the results of Sunday’s elections in Venezuela, in which President Nicolás Maduro was re-elected with almost 68% of the votes, considering that the process was not democratic. Nicolás Maduro is re-elected in Venezuela amid controversy “The government of the Republic of Panama does not recognize the results of …
Who is the man that is challenging Maduro??
With an electoral process in doors, Venezuela could face the possibility of slowing down the advance of the Chavez era. In a contest that will determine the destiny of the nation for the period 2019-2025, Nicolás Maduro will measure his mistakes against two opponents, one of them a long-standing politician, who …
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 …
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 …
Aleman promises transparency before potential audit
The Minister of the Presidency, Álvaro Alemán, referred to the conflict that arose between the National Assembly and the Office of the Comptroller General of the Republic , for the audit ordered to form 080, on the hiring that each deputy performs. Assembly appeals to the Court to stop audit …
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 …
Panama signs new Free Trade Agreement with Israel
In the framework of the meeting between the president of Panama, Juan Carlos Varela and the Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, the signing of a Free Trade Agreement and a memorandum of understanding on agricultural matters was celebrated. The Free Trade Agreement, signed by the Minister of Commerce and …