Four accept Martinelli lie detector challenge

FOUR people taunted by President Ricardo Martinelli to take a polygraph (lie detector) test over published revelations linking Panama government officials to alleged bribery, have accepted the challenge.

They are La Prensa founder Roberto Eisenmann, La Prensa Associate Director Rolando Rodríguez, PRD leader Balbina Herrera and Italian businessman Mauro Velocci .

 Martinelli said on Thursday, October 10 that he would be willing to take a lie detector test to prove that his government and his family have been victims of false claims made by Velocci and printed in La Prensa and widely aired on radio and TV.
He urged Velocci, Eisenmann, Rodriguez and Herrera to do the same and all four immediately accepted. Eisenmann and Rodriguez said they would submit to the test after Martinelli was examined.
Eisenmann also rejected the accusations made by Martinelli that he had "kidnapped" La Prensa.
"I must really be a special type of person if I can kidnap a newspaper from my hammock in Coronado," he said.
Eisenmann also said he does not believe that the Public Prosecutor's Office properly investigated corruption claims involving Martinelli and Italian companies. While no charges were filed here, Italian officials have issued a number of charges in that country related to contracts between Italian businesses and the government of Panama reports La Prensa.
"I think there is a possibility [of an investigation] if there is a change of government," Eisenmann said. "Otherwise no, because it seems that the president and the attorney general have reached an agreement."
Attorney General Ana Belfon said the case was closed. Last June, a court issued a final dismissal saying that there was no evidence of bribes being made to Panamanian officials.
The only process that is open is the one against Herrera for releasing e-mails between Martinelli and Italian businessman Valter Lavitola which discussed possible bribes in exchange for a lucrative defense contract.
Herrera agreed to undergo a polygraph "provided it is done in a transparent and accountable way." The former presidential candidate also said that Martinelli should apologize to the population "for the shame he is bringing us at the local and international levels."
"The president believes that he controls everything," she said. "That is why the lie detector would be a disastrous thing for him."
She said that Martinelli has simply verified everything that has been discovered in the Italian investigation.
Rodríguez said he thinks the president should be given the polygraph by Italian prosecutors.
"After he does that, I would gladly answer any questions about this case," he said.