News
Thursday 29th August 2024.
August 28, 2024
Luis Enrique and Ricardo Alberto Martinelli Linares, sons of former President Ricardo Martinelli, remain linked to the Blue Apple case , an investigation that tracks down the million-dollar bribes that owners of important construction companies paid to officials and individuals during the period 2009-2014 in exchange for public works contracts.
The Supreme Court of Justice has rejected an appeal filed by the defense of the Martinelli brothers that attempted to overturn a decision by the former second liquidator of criminal cases, Baloisa Marquínez, who had decreed a procedural break in the case.
The team of lawyers representing the Martinelli Linares family, who are currently members of the Central American Parliament (Parlacen) , had requested a reconsideration of Marquínez’s decision to send the case file to the full Court. However, the judges rejected this appeal.
With this decision, the Supreme Court accepted the Blue Apple case file and gave it a hearing, which implies that the court must appoint a magistrate and a fiscal magistrate to handle the case. Edict No. 950, published on Tuesday, August 27, in the Court’s office, contains the decision, issued under the report of magistrate Maribel Cornejo Batista and with the unanimous vote of the rest of the members of the plenary session.
In ruling No. 149 of August 21, 2023, Marquínez, who was in charge of the Blue Apple case, decided to break the proceedings in the Martinelli brothers’ case and send their file to the full Court. This decision was made after both were sworn in as Parlacen deputies, which allowed them to avoid ordinary justice.
In his ruling, Marquínez explained that “it is the responsibility of the Supreme Court to investigate and prosecute criminal and police acts carried out against a principal or alternate deputy.”
In the elections of May 5, Luis Enrique and Ricardo Alberto Martinelli Linares were reelected as alternate deputies to Parlacen. Luis Enrique is the alternate for Giselle Burillo, while Ricardo Alberto is the alternate for Carlos Outten. However, the latter is also the alternate deputy for Tomás Benavides (circuit 9-2 Veraguas).
In addition to the Blue Apple case, the Martinelli brothers are also facing another trial for alleged money laundering: the Odebrecht case. In this case, they will also have to be tried by the full Court because they are members of the Parlacen.
The proposed reforms to address the financial crisis of the Social Security Fund (CSS) will be debated in the National Assembly in extraordinary sessions in November and December , the Presidency of the Republic reported on Wednesday, August 28.
The information comes from a meeting held on Wednesday by the President of the Republic, José Raúl Mulino, with several teachers’ unions, to address the issue of the economic situation of the CSS.
“I want to lead this issue within a time frame, because the country has to move on to other issues. And what needs to be done will not be traumatic for anyone, neither for current retirees and pensioners nor for those who are about to retire,” Mulino said, according to the statement from the Presidency.
The meeting with the Executive took place in the Paz Hall of the Presidency and it was reported that representatives of some 28 teachers’ unions participated, who were urged to present their proposals, duly supported, with the aim of preparing a project of reforms for the CSS with the contribution of various sectors.
The president has already held meetings with other sectors such as political party leaders, private companies and some workers’ organizations, to finalize the proposal that will be brought before the National Assembly at the end of this year.
The Government’s plan is to achieve approval of the reforms to the CSS this year, with the aim of addressing other issues on the national agenda from January 2025.
“I do not wish for a traumatic process, much less confrontation between Panamanians, I do not wish that. I believe that we are all encouraged by the intention to talk and resolve this issue without it implying an indefinite wait, as has happened on other occasions, where none of those famous dialogues have resulted in a concrete, credible or bearable proposal for the National Assembly,” said Mulino.
Serena Vamvas , representative of the San Francisco district , along with her legal team, filed a criminal complaint with the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office of the Public Ministry to investigate the alleged undue withholding of Social Security Fund (CSS) fees by the former administration of the communal council.
The legal action was filed on Tuesday, August 27, because the district has a debt of more than $50,000 with the CSS.
Vamvas took office on July 2 , after defeating PRD member Carlos Pérez Herrera at the polls , who was the highest authority in the San Francisco district for 20 years.
“One of our most important pillars is transparency, and the reason we are communicating this is because we are extremely concerned, since there is a very large sum, more than $50,000, owed to the Social Security Fund, and this is something that unfortunately will have to come out of our operating budget, which is already quite low,” the representative said in a video.
He added that he is not making “excuses for not working” and assured that they are moving forward with projects for the community. However, he said that it is his duty to “file the relevant complaints.”
Law 60 of December 29, 1999 , on the crime of undue retention, establishes that whoever retains employer-employee contributions and does not remit them to the CSS within three months after the obligation to pay arises, will incur a prison sentence of 2 to 4 years. The same sanction will be applied to the employer, the legal representative or to whoever, in one way or another, orders the manager, administrator or accountant to withhold the delivery of contributions.
This is the second criminal complaint that Vamvas has filed with the Public Prosecutor’s Office. On July 4, just a few hours after taking office, he reported the alleged commission of crimes against computer security, public administration and the financial assets of the local council.
This is because the accounting system that was on the computers of the San Francisco community council was deleted. “Why was it supposedly deleted? Because we found absolutely nothing,” he reported at the time.
He explained that the previous administration, headed by Pérez Herrera, informed him that the lack of accounting system data on the technological equipment was caused by an alleged fluctuation that also affected the backups.
As the days went by, the district representative began reporting more irregularities detected in her office. San Francisco is the sector of the district that has seen the greatest increase in population over the last 10 years. Data from the 2023 census reveal that it has 61,290 inhabitants , while in 2010 it had 43,939. That is, it has 17,351 more.
The mayor of the district of Panama, Mayer Mizrachi, expressed frustration at the serious financial crisis facing the Municipality of Panama.
During the Panama City Council session, Mizrachi expressed concern about the economic constraints affecting project management and the provision of essential services to citizens.
The mayor of the capital city reacted after several councillors from the district of Panama told municipal authorities that they did not have enough staff within the communal councils to carry out work in their respective communities.
As you may recall, one of the first decisions the mayor made upon assuming office was to reduce the payroll from 6,000 to 3,500 officials. Within this group were some collaborators of the communal councils, both permanent and temporary.
During his speech, the mayor used as an example what happens within the Ministry of Public Works, an entity with a budget of more than $1 billion and debts exceeding $170 million.
In the case of the Municipality of Panama, this year’s budget was $325 million and the debt is around $140 million. “The percentage of debt in relation to the budget is astronomical,” said the mayor.
He also told the councillors that the frustration is mutual regarding the financial crisis that the local government is experiencing, since he is also experiencing it.
“The reality is that we must not look back. It is not that you do not want to, but that you do not have, and that is the situation of the current mayor’s office. My priority is to find a way to resolve it and not give excuses,” he said.
To deal with this situation, Mizrachi stressed that from September 16 to October 16 there will be a moratorium on the payment of municipal taxes, which, according to him, will provide some degree of liquidity or cash flow that will allow them to breathe.
“It’s not just about cutting costs, but also about accelerating the generation of new revenues. And that will be my big focus in the next 30 days,” he concluded.
Former Panama Mayor José Luis Fábrega (2019-2024) left a legacy marked by the excessive increase in payroll and operating expenses, which generated criticism and concern in the municipal administration. Despite these increases, his administration was also characterized by poor execution of investment projects, which has been pointed out as a key factor in the municipality’s current financial crisis.
Starting at 10:00 am on Wednesday, August 28, 2024, the use of three new lanes was implemented on the Pan-American Highway with the aim of speeding up traffic in Western Panama .
The Ministry of Public Works (MOP) reported that this authorization will be carried out in the direction of Panama towards La Chorrera, starting near the Panama Pacifico bridge up to the Centenario highway. Residents of Loma Cová and Arraiján Cabecera should use interchange 6, located in front of the Xtra supermarket in Arraiján.
In a statement, the MOP indicated that the road will be properly signposted, so drivers are advised to take the necessary precautions.
These lanes are part of the expansion and rehabilitation project of the Pan-American Highway, in the Las Américas – Arraiján bridge section, also known as the “eight lane” highway.
The work began in September 2017, and seven years have passed since the order to proceed was given.
The expansion to eight lanes is being carried out by the Loma Cová Consortium, made up of the companies Acciona Construcción, SA and Constructora Meco, SA. The cost of the project is $413 million and included the construction of 11 kilometers of road.
As part of an investigation into the crime of gang activity, Operation Storm was carried out in the early hours of Wednesday, August 28, 2024.
This operation was carried out in Las Mañanitas and surrounding areas, with the objective of locating members of the gang “Cochos Sin Terror” (CST). This gang is linked to several crimes, including homicides, drug trafficking and illegal possession of weapons, among others.
So far, 17 people have been arrested. Of these, 16 are suspected members of the gang, including its leader, known as alias ‘Fufo’. The other person arrested had an outstanding arrest warrant.
More than 40 investigations have been carried out within the framework of Operation Tormenta, which was executed by personnel from the Specialized Prosecutor’s Office for Crimes of Illicit Association in conjunction with the National Police.
During the investigation, money and suspected illegal substances were seized.