Italian senator raises possible bribery link to Panama

PANAMA'S government has hunkered down in a defensive mode over growing concerns about contracts with an Italian company and possible bribery connections.

But in Italy the links between the government and an Italian  fugitive from justice are are  raising questions in the Italian senate.

Senator Elio Lannutti asked the ministers in charge of Economy, Mario Monti, and Defense, Giampaolo Di Paola, to explain a contract to supply radar between Selex Sistemi Integrati, a subsidiary of Italian conglomerate Finmeccanica and the Government of Panama.

The contract said Lannutti, is questioned by Panamanian civil society because of "doubts" and "contradictions" over the cost  for the  installation of 19 radar sites , something  that has been "justified" by the Security Minister Jose Raul Mulino.

The story  is front and center in Italian newspapers, featuring photos of fugitive Valter Lavitola and President Ricardo Martinelli.

The politician also referred to the contracts  of Finmeccanica subsidiary Selex,  in Panama using. the Panamanian company, Agafea Corp linked to Lavítola.

Lannutti  proposed  an investigation and clarification as to whether there were actually bribes in the transaction.
Agafea was the beneficiary of a commission of 10% of the value of the $133 million contract with Panama, but in October,  Selex confirmed the cancellation of the  contract with Agafea.

Security Minister, Jose Raul Mulino said Friday  that, on the instructions of the president, Ricardo Martinelli,  he had called for a "clarification" of the Italian Government, on the purchase of the radar, six AugustaWestland helicopters, the digital cartographic map and the donation of six patrol boats agreed with the Government of Italy in June 2010.

Vice President, Juan Carlos Varela, reiterated his request that "the contract must be suspended, the information should be public and should be investigated.

Selex Panama  got a  $125 million direct contract from Panama for delivery of coastal radars through an agreement signed by  Ricardo Martinelli, and former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. It brought Lavítola to Panama  for the negotiations.

However, Lannuti said there are "doubts" and "contradictions" with the cost of work to install the radar because Security Minister, Jose Raul Mulino, " told local media [Panamanian] that instllation was covered by Selex, which justifies a high price for the contract. "

But the  Senator referred to the eighth clause of the contract with Selex for locating coastal radars, in which  the Panamanian state guarantee "provision of access to sites, power and any other work or support in place …" and electrical connections, water, telephone and roads.

Mulino's  has described the uproar as part of a "campaign to attack the national government," from opponents.

Research in Italy  has determined the existence of an alleged "black background" of 20 million euros (about $25 million) for  Finmeccanica to pay alleged "bribe" officials to win contracts in countries where there are allegations of surcharges.

The  country's authorities are investigating the final recipients of those benefits.

The newspaper Il Fatto Quotidiano reported Friday, December 17, that the Italain Attorney General  is investigting Lavítola for "corruption of members of foreign states." The authorities say  Lavítola "promoted prisons contracts worth millions of modular construction of public works" in Panama, which will be subject to "thorough investigation".

 Consorzio Svemark Panama, SA- chaired by Italian Mauro Velocci, linked to Lavítola– had earmarked a sum of "100 million euros" for the construction of prisons but the project did not prosper.

Information supplied to the newspaper says  that another member of Svemark is Angelo Capriotti, who was employed Nicla De Venuto, wife of Giampaolo Tarantini, who was the one who got women for Berlusconi private parties

Panama opposition  deputies Jose Blandon, Panameñista  and Jorge Alberto Rosas, Moirena, said Friday that , the Panamanian Public Ministry is running out of arguments  for not starting an official investigation,