Cases of corruption in the Government, in suspense

Investigations that have been initiated against government officials, during the term of President Juan Carlos Varela, are being treated differently from those involving other Panamanians, to such an extent that there are processes that have taken more than one year, and have not had a breakthrough as yet.

It's about 9 high profile cases which have involved Ministers, directors and advisors of the Government which, though to be designated for committing some sort of infraction, have not been brought to justice.

Even officials have acknowledged having carried out practices for which today former officials of the previous Government are being investigated, however, their cases are going nowhere in the Public Prosecutor's Office.

Critics of the Government point out that it is a selective application of Justice, which has benefited figures linked to the Presidency.

This case refers to President´s former counsellor, Ramón Fonseca Mora, who has been immersed in an investigation by the Public Ministry (MP), for complaints against his law firm Mossack Fonseca, related with corporations allegedly used for money laundering.

President Juan Carlos Varela himself has faced accusations and sent a message to the judicial authorities describing his friendship with Fonseca Mora.

'I am not going to deny my friendship with Mr. Fonseca Mora; he is a friend of mine and yes I have contacted him, especially on the more personal side; he has a wife, has children, and friends and in these difficult times we will not turn our back on him, friends will be there (...) ' , said the President.

On the other hand, institutional procedures and alleged mismanagement of public funds now have defended, which were earlier criticized by the President Varela when being in opposition.

In cases such as the Programa Techos de Esperanza (Roofs of Hope Program) implemented by the Minister of Housing and Land Management, Mario Etchelecu, who was subjected to an investigation by the Public Ministry (MP), after having carried out the ordering of direct contracting for the rental and purchases of equipment, which benefit a selected group of companies.

Direct contacting have been repeated in other entities such as Tocumen S.A., in which General Manager, Joseph Fidanque III, has made many ones that have been awarded to relatives and companies that have direct links to him, but for which he is not being investigated, either.

In this case, complaints have been presented before the Attorney General of the Nation´s office, for violating the Panamanian legislation that establishes that "contracts / agreements (...) not be held for the provision of services or for the supply of goods to own benefit'.

Rigged processes

Questions against the Government are not only emphasized in the way how investigations are omitted, but in how justice has been applied in cases of high profile.

The way justice is applied to members of the Panameñista party is also rejected.

Some of these processes was that in which Bosco Vallarino was involved, in which the Auxiliary Prosecutor issued a precautionary house-arrest measure for the former Mayor of Panama, which is being investigated for allegedly accepting a bribe.

The same situation happened with the "false medical doctor", Grimaldo Cordoba, who was sentenced to 42 months in prison by the sixteenth Criminal Court, penalty which is switchable.

This way of applying Justice also relates to the President Juan Carlos Varela´s campaign donors.

In this sense, former first lady, Marta Linares de Martinelli, questioned "how much would Mossack Fonseca have donated to President Varela for his campaign? Has he declared so? Why is he not being investigated?'

At the same time, the President of the National Association of Lawyers (CNA), Alberto Álvarez, said there is perception that people who have been advising in the campaign of the President are not being investigated.

This would lead the President to pay the price

According to former Ambassador of Panama to the Organization of the American States (OAS), Guillermo “Willy” Cochez, "the price that Varela has paid for controlling of the legislative branch has been very high. Too much corruption'.