Monday
Monday 9th September 2024.
September 8, 2024
María Eugenia López Arias has been appointed as the magistrate in charge of the criminal proceedings against Luis Enrique and Ricardo Alberto Martinelli Linares, sons of former President Ricardo Martinelli, in relation to the Blue Apple case .
This case is related to an investigation into the multimillion-dollar bribes that owners of important construction companies paid to officials and individuals between 2009 and 2014, in exchange for the awarding of public works contracts.
The election of López Arias as the investigating magistrate was carried out through an electronic draw on the afternoon of Friday, September 6, 2024.
With this procedure, established in the Resolution of January 11, 2024, the processing of the case is resumed at the point where it was referred by the Second Liquidation Court of Criminal Cases, according to the Judicial Body.
The next step will be to set the dates, both main and alternate, for the hearing on the merits, which must be notified to all parties involved.
In the same Resolution, the plenary session of the Supreme Court of Justice assumed the knowledge of the collation of copies sent by the Second Liquidation Court and requested the Electoral Court to verify the status of the two accused to determine if they enjoy electoral criminal immunity.
It should be noted that the Supreme Court of Justice is responsible for investigating and prosecuting crimes committed by principal or alternate deputies.
Luis Enrique and Ricardo Alberto Martinelli Linares were re-elected as alternate deputies of the Central American Parliament (Parlacen) in the elections of May 5. Luis Enrique is the alternate for Giselle Burillo, and Ricardo Alberto is the alternate for Carlos Outten, who in turn is the alternate for Tomás Benavides (circuit 9-2, Veraguas).
The Consumer Protection and Competition Authority (Acodeco) has imposed a total of 18 fines so far this year on various businesses for irregularities in reusable bags, regulated by Law 1 of 2018.
The entity recalled that the law prohibits the use of polyethylene bags in supermarkets, self-service stores, warehouses or businesses in general, for transporting products or merchandise.
The main reason for the sanctions is for not complying with the certificate of conformity: 17 fines for an amount of $4,300.00. For not declaring the cost of the bags, Acodeco imposed a fine of $85.00.
“Many economic agents have chosen not to deliver or sell these bags, in order not to be involved in declaring these costs and to avoid being penalized,” he explained.
In July 2019, Panama joined the list of countries that banned the use of plastic bags in order to prevent environmental pollution.
The measure first began in supermarkets, convenience stores, grocery stores and retail stores. In January 2020, the regulation was extended to warehouses and wholesalers.
The lack of digitalized systems and procedures in the government sector has generated cost overruns, payment delays and complications that affect both private companies and public services, impacting the prices paid by all Panamanians.
This was stated by the Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture of Panama (Cciap) in a statement on Sunday, September 8. “For years, state bureaucracy and manual management in various institutions have hindered the sustainable development of Panama,” it indicated.
The business sector is therefore urging the new administration to replicate what they consider to be a “success” in institutions such as the Electoral Court, the Land Transit and Transport Authority and the Passport Authority, which have modernized processes with technology.
“These entities have transformed the issuance of identity cards, licenses and passports, marking a turning point in the efficiency of the State,” said the Cciap.
For the Chamber, the digitalization of government processes “is key to the development of the country.” In addition, it modernizes public administration, improving efficiency, transparency and accessibility to services.
Consider that by automating repetitive tasks, waiting times are reduced, optimizing the operation of new projects and increasing competitiveness.
“Digital platforms allow access to government services at any time and from almost any place with an internet connection,” he added.
The Chamber of Commerce offered the qualified electronic signature, an “efficient, agile and secure” digital tool to validate documents such as employment contracts, banking and commercial transactions. For this reason, they requested the National Authority for Government Innovation (AIG), headed by the former president of the Cciap, Adolfo Fábrega, to invest in technological platforms that allow online procedures and offer information in real time.
The First Criminal Cases Liquidation Court ordered Adolfo De Obarrio, former private secretary of former President Ricardo Martinelli, to be transferred to said office for not having appeared in the proceedings against him for the crimes of money laundering and embezzlement.
In a notice posted in the courtroom on August 29, authorities were informed of the order issued by Judge Águeda Rentería to summon De Obarrio.
On August 1, 2023, the court attempted to hold a trial against De Obarrio for the crimes of unjust enrichment and money laundering, but he did not appear, even though both he and his lawyers had been notified of the judicial proceedings.
On November 14, 2022, the court decided to bring De Obarrio, his mother Silvana Salerno and others to trial for the crimes of unjust enrichment and money laundering, excluding his wife, Ivette Barsallo, from the proceedings after she reached a collaboration agreement with the prosecution.
According to an audit report that served as the basis for the trial, it was determined that De Obarrio earned more than $3.7 million during his time as an official, without being able to justify the origin of those funds.
De Obarrio has been sentenced to 120 months in prison for money laundering in relation to the Blue Apple case. As an additional penalty, he was ordered to pay $5,091,486.92, which he must pay to the National Treasury within 24 months after serving the main sentence.
De Obarrio left Panama in November 2014 and has not returned to the country since. Panama once requested his extradition from Italy, but this was not carried out because the National Assembly has not ratified the extradition treaty signed with Italy.
Following an inspection of food stalls located on the Amador Causeway, the Ministry of Health (Minsa) determined that 95% of them do not comply with health regulations.
The operation was carried out this weekend. Once the irregularities were discovered, health officials proceeded to confiscate the various products.
In addition, the respective fines were applied to each of the street vendors.
Most of these small stands are located near the playground, very close to Perico Island. There are stands selling meat on a stick, chorizos, hot dogs , hamburgers, shaved ice, among others.
It is during the weekends that most people visit this tourist site, which has seen commercial growth in recent years.
Panamanian Foreign Minister Javier Martínez Acha formalized the appointment of José Miguel Alemán as the new Panamanian ambassador to the United States.
The inauguration took place yesterday, September 6, at the Panamanian Foreign Ministry. According to the entity, with this appointment at the embassy, Panama’s solid relationship with the United States is reinforced , promoting dialogue, strategic cooperation and joint development in areas of common interest.
Martínez Acha congratulated Alemán on his appointment to the embassy in Washington and stressed that “his leadership and experience will strengthen ties between Panama and the United States, promoting constructive dialogue and strategic cooperation to achieve new goals.”
Alemán, a lawyer by profession, was foreign minister during the government of President Mireya Moscoso (1999-2004) and presidential candidate for the Panameñista Party (formerly the Arnulfista Party) in the 2004 elections.
He also served on the National Council on Foreign Relations (Conarex) from 2009 to 2014, during the government of Ricardo Martinelli.
His father, Roberto Alemán Zubieta, was Panama’s ambassador to the United States in the 1960s. His brother, Jaime Alemán, was also ambassador to the same country between 2009 and 2011.
President José Raúl Mulino spoke out about the failures in the internet service he experienced at his residence in the Coronado area, in West Panama, by one of the telecommunications operators, in this case TIGO Panama , a company of the Millicom group .
“ The change from Cable Onda to @TigoPanama has been a disaster in P. Coronado. The internet signal is terrible. I have asked @AsepPanama to take action on the matter without delay ,” Mulino said on the social network X.
The president asked the National Authority for Public Services (ASEP), which regulates telecommunications companies and also electricity companies, among others, to monitor the operation of the internet service, specifically that of the operator TIGO .
TIGO was consulted about the incident referred to by the President of the Republic, and they indicated that the case is being handled as a service client.
This is not the first time that the President of the Republic has referred to the quality of some services. He has pointed out several times the deficiencies in the electricity, water and now telecommunications services.
TIGO Panama operates mobile telephony, cable television, residential internet services, among other services. This company belonging to the multinational Millicom began operations in the country in 2018 when it acquired 80% of the shares of Cable Onda, for $1,460 million and later in 2019 they bought the operations of Movistar Panama for $649.75 million .