Claim and counter claim in alleged bribery scandal

“THE FAMILY that robs together stays together ,” said PRD presidential candidate Juan Carlos Navarro on Wednesday October 9.

He was responding to denials by government figures and the Ricardo Martinelli family of revelations published by La Prensa , of material in prosecutors’ files in Italy about alleged bribes to high ranking government officials.

An investigative report in La Prensa revealed the records fof international bribery by the Italian Valter Lavítola who is accused in his own country, reflects a web of corruption , blackmail and the alleged payment of bribes to relatives close to the president , Ricardo Martinelli.
Meanwhile Panama mayor Roxana Mendez said that bribes were never spoken of , during discussion of a prison project for the country.
Mendez recalled that this project did not materialize, because it was impossible to get the necessary funding. " In a project formulation process , are we going to talk about bribes? " .
When asked about what was behind the emergence of this new scandal , Mendez emphasized that she did not like to speculate. "I 'm very quiet and this jail project fell through and we never spoke of bribes ," said Mendez.
Meanwhile, Minister of the Presidency , Roberto Henriquez , said Mauro Velocci – Svemark representative in Panama – mounted " a hoax " , following the publication by  La Prensa this week details of the Finmeccanica scandal .
“The conspiracy of an individual named Velocci was because the government did not give him a contract to build a prison that he had sought with intensity and longing in Panama … he has been engaged to promote a hoax that still is unsustainable in the Italian courts ."
He added: " Velocci has mounted a hoax which unfortunately is being fed by a conspiracy of local political interests .".
He said that this Thursday, October 10 , President Ricardo Martinelli " with undeniable evidence will clarify this issue." He said that Velocci does not enjoy any credibility and "is acting out of revenge … He is in jail and accused in Italy " .