La Prensa family face $1.5 million hit as Martinelli critics get audited

 After seven months of 'continuous auditing', Panama’s Revenue Department (DGI) found alleged deficiencies in the Eisenmann family business that will cost $ 1.5 million. 

The founder of La Prensa  was notified of the problem in the midst of the paper’s criticism and investigation of alleged government corruption while journalists across Latin America point to increasing  action against the independent media.

On Thursday, December 22, inspectors from the DGI of the Ministry of Finance informed Roberto Eisenmannof  audit carried out on the Coronado Golf Development, SA and claimed found "gaps and differences" for income and ITBMS in the last three years.

"I reported a tax range of $ .5 million based on a bunch of nonsense that makes it clear that it is an audit policy," said Eisenman, president and legal representative of Coronado Golf Development, Inc.

Eisenmann, founder president of La Prensa , has been a harsh critic of the administration of President Ricardo Martinelli, during the past two years.

His brother, Cesar Tribaldos, another shareholder of the company, is also treasurer of the board of La Prensa.

Eisenmann was verbally informed that failure to repay the sum, could lead to the DGI taking over administration of the company.

At its last general meeting last November in Lima, Peru, the Inter American Press Association discussed the issue of freedom of expression and said  mainstream media and journalists in Panama are subject to some type of threat, specifically citing cases of tax audits and attacks via social networks.

Previously, the DGI had carried out audits in companies Guillermo Antonio Adames-owner of OmegaStereo and former president of the National Council of Journalism, and social communicator Juan Carlos Tapia.

In each case  the tax inspectors arrived just after statements were made  critical of the government of Ricardo Martinelli.