La Prensa founder slapped with $3.76 million fine

The businessman and founder of La Prensa , I. Roberto Eisenmann Jr., has been hit with  a $3.76 million fine from Panama’s Department of Revenue (DGI).

He got the news in writing on Thursday, January 5 following an audit of o the Coronado Golf Development Company, Inc. "That's twice what I was told  verbally by the chief auditor of the DGI when they closed the audit about ten days ago," said Eisenmann.  

He said that  he had read the arguments of the DGI resolution with his legal team, .

On Wednesday,   the government newspaper Panama America quoted a Revenue, official as saying: "$1.5 million dollars is not the official figure of the audit, because the DGI and its auditors never told  Eisenmann the extent."

Eisenmann, who has raised serious questions of the administration of Ricardo Martinelli, said that he is preparing  for the legal battle, even up to the Supreme Court if necessary. 

Despite the fine, the businessman , who spent 21 years fighting against the military regime (1968-1989) – said he will not back down and will continue to make strong criticisms against the government for corruption cases and over  threats suffered by  democratic institutions. "This is a politically tinged persecution" he said.