Five immigration lawyers accused of malpractice

Anyone who has gone through Panama’s immigration using a non-performing, overcharging, attorney will cheer the news that the National Bar Association has been asked to suspend the licenses of five lawyers.

They are accused of irregularities linked to process of naturalizing foreign citizens.
Immigration Director María Cristina González said the lawyers violated a number of regulations, including using the same check for a number of clients, then pocketing the difference. They also are accused of accepting money from clients then failing to provide the requested services.
The names of the lawyers under investigation were not released. González said that the number of lawyers actually committing these acts is probably much higher, but people who encounter problems rarely file formal complaints.
"We are asking for foreign citizens to file complaints about specific allegations, because it is the only way to solve these problems," the director said.
With reports and rumors about increasing corruption in the immigration department swirling aound the city, González said that two immigration employees were recently dismissed for committing irregularities concerning the agency’s database.
Bar Association President Rubén Elias Rodríguez said that he is only aware of two pending cases against attorneys, and one of them is not a member of the organization.

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