News
Tuesday 20th August 2024.
August 19, 2024
Omar Alexander Ortega Robles, alleged member of the network linked to drug trafficking and money laundering crimes for acts investigated in Operation Jericho , as well as Luis Diego Pitti, identified as one of the alleged ringleaders, turned themselves in on the afternoon of Monday, August 19, before the authorities.
Both suspects were on the National Police ‘s most wanted list . Sources from the Public Prosecutor’s Office confirmed the surrender of Ortega Robles and Pitti, who will be brought to a hearing.
Meanwhile, Abraham Rico Pineda , son of the Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD) deputy, Raúl Pineda , whom the Drug Prosecutor’s Office links to a drug trafficking criminal structure, remains at large.
Authorities are offering a $25,000 reward for any information leading to the whereabouts of Pineda Jr.
Last Thursday, the Drug Prosecutor’s Office carried out a raid at Pineda’s residence, located in Albrook, Ancón district, since he appears as one of the persons of interest in this investigation.
The Drug Prosecutor’s Office accuses Pineda (son) of acting as coordinator of money laundering activities, since the investigations carried out indicate that he is the person who organizes the movement and delivery of large sums of money in the capital city.
On Monday, August 19, the judge of guarantees, Mike Zuñiga, validated three sentencing agreements of 60 months in prison for two men and a woman prosecuted for the alleged crime of conspiracy to traffic drugs who were arrested in Operation Jericho.
During the fourth day of the hearing of 29 defendants for the crimes of money laundering and drug trafficking, which is taking place at the facilities of the Accusatory Penal System in Plaza Ágora, the judge validated the sentencing agreements for Ania Raquel Moreno, Santiago Batista and Olmedo Pitti, who were found guilty of the crime of conspiracy to traffic drugs.
During the hearing that began at 9:00 am Monday, Judge Zuñiga had to declare a one-hour recess, after one of the defendants had to be transferred to Santo Tomás Hospital due to health problems.
The hearing resumed at 11:00 am, to evacuate the sentencing agreements requested by the lawyers of Moreno, Batista and Pittí. The three detainees were investigated by the prosecution for having provided logistical support to the criminal network for drug trafficking and money laundering.
Following the sentencing of the three defendants, their lawyers filed a petition for their prison sentences to be replaced by community service.
In Operation Jericho, the Drug Prosecutor’s Office dismantled a criminal network operating in the provinces of Darien, Panama, Cocle, Los Santos and Chiriqui dedicated to drug trafficking and money laundering.
On Monday, August 19, the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office carried out an on-site inspection of the Association of Mayors of Panama (Adalpa) as part of the investigation into the disappearance of vehicles assigned to municipalities.
Prosecutor Anilú Batista explained that during the investigation they managed to locate three vehicles at the Adalpa headquarters, with the support of the board of directors of that association. The prosecutor’s office staff proceeded to inspect the three vehicles and draw up the report.
He said they have information that five vehicles were assigned to the former mayor of Colón, Alex Lee, who was also a member of Adalpa. So far they have not been located.
The Public Prosecutor’s Office opened the case after the new mayor of that district, Diógenes Galván, published a video on his Instagram account and reported on the disappearance of the luxury cars.
The Ministry of Economy and Finance assigns the use and temporary custody of seized assets, for example vehicles, to public institutions or non-governmental organizations. In both cases, the custodian assumes responsibility for the insurance coverage of the asset, as well as the costs
The Minister of Economy and Finance, Felipe Chapman , attended the National Assembly (AN) on Monday to justify the reform to the law that dictates the general budget of the State for 2024, with the purpose that the transfers of items with available funds will only be sent to the Budget Commission when they exceed $5 million. However, he was open to the amount being debated.
“What motivates this minister is to respect the spirit of the Constitution, which says that there are autonomous bodies but they must work in harmony. That is what we are looking for. The amount per se is secondary,” Chapman said.
He made these statements upon his arrival at the National Assembly, specifically in the run-up to the Budget Committee, where the bill will be discussed in its first debate.
“The basis is that the budget is well budgeted, that the Comptroller General’s Office audits properly, that the Ministry of Economy and Finance does its job in the process of studying transfers. We have already made important changes within the National Budget Directorate to improve this,” Chapman said.
On August 2, the Comptroller General of the Republic approved the fourth addendum to the contract signed by the Panama Metro and the Korean consortium HPH Joint Venture , which is building Line 3 between Albrook and Ciudad del Futuro, in West Panama.
The addendum covers all costs related to the construction of the six-kilometer underground section, work that will begin next September, according to information provided by the Panama Metro to La Prensa .
After deductions for works that will not be carried out because they are related to the original design, which contemplated the use of the fourth bridge to cross the Panama Canal , the tunnel, which will reach depths of 65 meters below sea level, will have an approximate cost of 329 million dollars.
The Autonomous University of Chiriquí (Unachi) , through a statement published on the night of Sunday, August 18, justified the request for transfers of funds that was rejected on August 14 by the Budget Commission of the National Assembly .
According to the statement, the funds that the rector Etelvina de Bonagas requested in the form of transfers of funds – one was for $600,500 and the other amounted to $259,706 – to pay bonuses and seniority premiums to administrative staff and teachers, “does not imply more money for the institution.”
The note highlights that these funds did not increase the amount of the budget allocated for the 2024 fiscal period. What they had planned was a current redistribution of their budget.
“Finally, in compliance with transparency and accountability, the Autonomous University of Chiriquí will request an audit in order to verify – before the country – the correct management of public funds assigned to the institution and to clarify the questions in this regard,” the statement said.
During her appearance last Wednesday before the Budget Committee, the rector was forced to answer tough questions about the juicy bonuses that university staff receive, the controversial calculations for calculating the seniority bonus, the poor budget execution and even cases of nepotism in the institution.
A day later, the President of the Republic, José Raúl Mulino , also harshly questioned his management. He stated that “he should not be given one more penny than what he already has and squanders” and advised him to “better shut his mouth” and here he added that “every time he speaks, he opens the door to the biggest Public Ministry.”
Users of the Social Security Fund (CSS) continue to complain that they are experiencing problems in the admission of their retirement processes. They claim that the process has been delayed supposedly due to problems in the entity’s technological system.
During a tour by La Prensa on Friday, August 2, of some clinics, such as the Manuel María Valdés in San Miguelito, the insured stated that since July 31, the system has been crashing suddenly, leaving users without electronic medical appointments, medications and records.
At the same time, it was difficult for agencies to complete membership procedures, update data or renew cards.
To apply for an old-age pension, women must be 57 years old and men must be 62 years old. However, the application can be submitted three months before reaching the required age. In addition, 240 installments are required as of January 1, 2013.
In addition to these basic requirements, a series of documents must be submitted: Here is the list.
- Request the long-term financial benefits application form from the nearest administrative agency or online.
- Copy of personal identity card (current and legible).
These documents must be submitted without any erasures, blots, or use of correction fluid.
In the event that the insured is outside of Panama, he/she must send an email or note to the Pensions and Subsidies Department.
- In addition to a general or special power of attorney and a copy of the personal identification card of the authorized person, if it is processed in Panama.
- If the power of attorney comes from abroad, it must be authenticated by the Panamanian embassy in the country of presentation and sealed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Panama.
- If the power of attorney is made in a country that is a signatory to the Hague Convention , it must come with the respective apostille seal and signature before a notary.
- If you do not have a Panamanian identity card, you must present a copy of your updated passport and general immigration information, if you have been in Panama.
- If you have not entered the country, you must attach a birth certificate from your country of origin translated into Spanish by an authorized interpreter, if it is in another language.