Herrera gets 3 years over e-mails in alleged bribery scandal

PANAMA’S JUSTICE system has handed out a three year sentence in the only case related to the Italy-Panama alleged bribery scandal to reach the courts.

Former presidential candidate Balbina Herrera who ran against Ricardo Martinelli, was sentenced to three years in prison Friday October 11, for spreading e-mails between President Ricardo Martinelli and Italian businessman Valter Lavítola in which they discussed government contracts.

Lavitola is at the center of an Itslian scandal involving bribes paid to governments in several countries which has led to the arrest of two company presidents and others. Deals with Panama are firmly in the sighs of Italian prosecutor.
Meanwhile on Friday Herrera had not been informed of the decision by First Municipal Judge Yorlenni Fruto. The sentence includes the disqualification from holding public office for the same period after the sentence is served.
However the information was reported by the weekly newspaper La Opinion, which promotes government activities and is directed by former Secretary of State Communication Alfredo Prieto.
Martinelli said previously that Herrera was "used" to disclose the e-mails, and that he did not know if they were true or false. He has said he will pardon Herrera says La Prensa.
Martinelli also refused a request by prosecutors to examine his computer to confirm the validity of the e-mails, which was criticized by Herrera's defense attorneys.
Herrera had earlier predicted that she would not be acquitted: "The judge has not given us the verdict, but whatever it is, I will abide by the sentence," she said. "I know I will be condemned."
She said that the judiciary is directly controlled by Martinelli, but that it will not silence her or her supporters.
 is a shame What is happening in the administration of justice is a shame " she said.
In the latest survey of the pulse of the nation (August 2013), 78 percent of those asked felt that the justice system is selective, since the law does not apply to everyone.
The process against Herrera was the only one open in the Finmeccanica case.
The complaint against the PRD leader was filed by Ana Belfon, then Secretariat for Legal Affairs of the Presidency. Martinelli later made her Attorney General. The appointment was strongly criticized in some quarters because of her role in prosecuting opponents of former military dictator Manuel Noriega.