News
Wednesday 11th December 2024.
December 10, 2024
The judge of guarantees, Irene Cedeño, accepted the charge presented by the Drug Prosecutor’s Office against Maybeth Araúz, wife of Abraham Rico Pineda , for the crime of money laundering, for her alleged participation in a criminal network dismantled in Operation Jericho .
Judge Cedeño also applied the precautionary measure of notification on Monday and Friday and prohibition of Araúz from leaving the country, after considering that the accused is a mother of two small children and is breastfeeding.
During the hearing, which began at 2:00 pm on Tuesday, December 10, drug prosecutor Yhonkley Boniche assured that the accused had an active participation in the money laundering scheme in which she participated with Omar Ortega and her husband Abraham Rico Pineda , both detained in this case.
Prosecutor Boniche alleged that Maybeth Araúz was linked to Operation Jericó after the confiscation of $89,948 from Colombian Jhonatan Parra, a few minutes after meeting with Rico Pineda at the company Servicios Múltiples Rama SA, located in Betania.
According to the prosecution, after Parra’s arrest, Rico Pineda called his wife and told her to deposit the money that was inside the “little suitcase ” in several accounts in a local bank.
The investigation by the Drug Prosecutor’s Office is based on 14 transcripts of telephone interceptions of Rico Pineda. That is why the orders that the son of the deputy Raúl Pineda gave to his collaborators before and after the raids became known .
Prosecutor Boniche explained that this evidence was obtained through wiretaps made to both Rico Pineda and Maybeth Araúz.
According to the prosecution’s investigation, Araúz received money from drug sales from Omar Ortega, Rico Pineda and Edgar Joel Osigian, convicted of gang activity.
The prosecutor told the hearing that the group used payments via check to introduce funds related to illicit activities into the country’s commercial system.
For his part, Victor Orobio, Arauz’s lawyer, said that the prosecution has not been able to prove his client’s alleged participation in a criminal structure related to money laundering.
In his statement, Orobio explained that his client is only mentioned in one of the 24 events that are part of Operation Jericho . And that there is no relationship between her and the rest of those under investigation.
The only connection, in his opinion, is the fact that she is the wife of Abraham Rico Pineda and has some participation in the company Servicios Múltiples Rama, but her participation in the alleged criminal network has never been mentioned.
In Operation Jericho, which began on June 30, 2023, authorities arrested 37 people linked to that criminal structure and seized three tons of drugs.
On December 3, the Public Prosecutor’s Office sent to the Court an extension of the summary in which Congressman Raúl Pineda , father of Abraham Rico Pineda, is allegedly linked to Operation Jericho.
These indictments contain a series of transcripts of telephone conversations that are allegedly related to money laundering activities.
The consultation phase in the capital for the project that reforms the Organic Law of the Social Security Fund (CSS) ended on Tuesday, December 10, with the participation of 48.3% of the 622 people who registered in the Labor and Health Commission of the National Assembly .
Of the 22 people summoned to this last session in the Carlos Titi Alvarado auditorium of the Palacio Justo Arosemena, only 11 people attended. The majority were union leaders and university students, who expressed their rejection of the project presented by the Executive, considering that what is sought is to “put the quotas of the Panamanian people” in the hands of the private sector.
The deputies who make up the commission listened to each of the participants, in an almost empty auditorium, unlike the first few days when it was practically packed.
In total, according to the Commission, 301 people participated in 17 days of consultations. 622 had already registered.
“The true law on the Social Security Fund will emerge from these citizen consultations,” said the president of the Commission, Alaín Cedeño , a member of the Realizing Goals party.
Starting this Wednesday, December 11, the Commission will begin a tour of the interior of the country to continue listening to citizens. The first stop the deputies will make will be in the province of Bocas del Toro.
“We want the support of the population, for them to give us their opinion and their recommendations, so that the best project can be developed, which will help save this institution,” added Cedeño.
The National Council of Private Enterprise (Conep) proposed that the three percentage point increase in the fee paid by employers, provided for in the reform of the Social Security Fund (CSS) , be established gradually so as not to affect operations, mainly those of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Temístocles Rosas, president of Conep, said that the plan is to set the increase based on the type of company and that a gradual increase of one percentage point can be recorded every two years until reaching the three percentage point increase proposed by the Executive.
“What we are seeking is to prevent small and medium-sized companies from being unable to withstand this adjustment, which creates unemployment and causes more people to enter the informal sector,” he explained.
He explained that the three percentage point increase represents a 24% increase in practice and is a risk to the operations of SMEs.
Rosas also said that the reform should be accelerated and urged that a high-level debate be maintained and that it should not be given rise to delays and political strategies.
“This is not an issue for politics, since the CSS solution is for all Panamanians and we need to put aside political positions,” he stressed.
Rosas expressed his concern about the management of CSS credits and funds.
“The debt is 310 million dollars and, of that, 150 million dollars correspond to the private sector. It is important that the CSS takes steps to collect those amounts that have remained unpaid,” he said.
Regarding the initiative to impose taxes on financial transactions, Rosas said that Conep rejects this proposal because it would destroy the financial system.
“That would destroy the ability to attract foreign investment. We have rejected that proposal,” he added, pointing out that the proposal by the Realizing Goals (RM) party was very misguided and inappropriate, with negative effects on the country’s economy.
He reiterated that the approval of the reform must be accelerated and not postponed.
“There is no room for political manoeuvring here and we hope that the honourable Members will understand,” he added.
The president of Conep said that the governance of the board of directors must be strengthened. “We have indicated that the issue of the discretion of the general director of the CSS to choose an investment agent or to transfer funds must be subject to the approval of the board of directors,” he said.
In the Boyalá, La Cristal and Valle del Sol sectors, in Arraiján (West Panama), operations are ongoing to locate and arrest five people involved in the murder of a security agent in a commercial establishment located in Loma Cová.
The crime occurred on the night of Sunday, December 8.
The National Police reported that strategies such as intelligence operations, territorial patrols and the offer of a $3,000 reward for information that allows the identification and capture of those responsible have been implemented, according to Commissioner Edgardo Núñez. In coordination with the Public Prosecutor’s Office, raids have also been carried out to determine the whereabouts of the suspects. During these proceedings, some people have been detained for investigation in order to collect evidence to strengthen the case. In addition, the video surveillance cameras installed at the crime scene were reviewed.
The recordings show several individuals walking through the mini-supermarket while the victim was lying on the floor. When they tried to leave the establishment and realized they were locked in, the suspects attacked the security guard, shooting him multiple times.
The treated water pumping station facilities of the National Water and Sewer Institute (IDAAN) , located in Isla del Hombre, in the district of Rufina Alfaro, on the main avenue of Brisas del Golf, were vandalized during the night of last Sunday, December 8.
Idaan confirmed that due to the theft of copper parts from the altitude valve , pumping operations were affected. In addition, it was reported that both the telemetry and the video surveillance camera system, recently installed by the entity, were damaged.
Isaac González, metropolitan manager of Idaan , confirmed that this is not the first time that this station has been the target of vandalism. He added that the houses in the La Montañeza development are the main ones affected by the interruption of the supply of drinking water.
The Idaan administration issued a strong appeal to those who carry out these acts, describing them as an attack on public health, since they interrupt the service. “We urge regional authorities and the general population to be vigilant and cautious in order to avoid these irregularities that harm everyone,” the entity indicated.
In light of this situation, the metropolitan manager explained that the institution plans to prepare a report on the damage and file a complaint with the authorities during the course of the week.
González explained that personnel from the Metropolitan Management and the Electromechanical Department managed to leave the station operational and functional. However, the total repair to return it to its original state will require the replacement of electronic devices and sensors, some of which were stolen and others vandalized.
Regarding the cost of the damage, Gonzalez said that a complete economic assessment has not yet been made, as technicians must analyse it in detail.
The Ministry of Health (Minsa) reports 63 cases of leptospirosis in Panama so far in 2024, with one death of a 44-year-old woman recorded in the province of Coclé. This bacterial disease, which is transmitted from animals to humans, represents a challenge for public health, especially in vulnerable areas.
Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease caused by the leptospira bacteria , which is found in the urine of animals such as rodents, dogs and cows. Infection occurs through contact with contaminated water or surfaces, making areas with flooding or stagnant water high-risk areas.
“ The risk increases after rain or floods, as people can be exposed to contaminated water. It is crucial not to walk barefoot in these areas and to wear waterproof clothing ,” explained Jorge Jesús Rodríguez, a doctor specializing in health promotion at the Minsa.
The initial symptoms of leptospirosis are similar to those of viral infections, but they have a bacterial origin and require immediate medical attention. The main signs include:
- High fever. Headache. Muscle pain. Conjunctiva infection. Jaundice. General malaise.
- Rodriguez stressed that this disease requires treatment with antibiotics and that self-medication can complicate the condition.
The Minsa urges the population to follow these preventive measures:
- Avoid contact with contaminated water: wear boots and waterproof clothing in flooded areas. Avoid walking barefoot in risk areas.
- Maintain hygiene at home: clean pet areas and make sure they are vaccinated. Control the presence of rodents by removing tall grass and properly handling waste.
- Ensure safe drinking water: Use safe water for cooking and washing food. Boil water for five minutes if it is not safe to drink.
The report of cases in Panama, together with the death recorded in Coclé, underscores the importance of preventive measures. The Minsa calls on the population to protect their health, take care of their environment and go to medical centers if they have any suspicious symptoms, since they can be confused with other common diseases, such as dengue and other hemorrhagic fevers.