Panama connection trial resumes in Naples

 Italian businessman Valter Laví¬tola will go on trial Thursdau July 3 in the Court of Naples, accused by prosecutors Henry John Woodcock and Vicenzo Piscitelli of having extorted the Italian company Impregilo to build a hospital in Veraguas that was demanded by former Panama President Ricardo Martinelli. 

The construction of the hospital would have fulfilled a pledge made by Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.
This will be the first appearance by Lavítola in a courtroom since Martinelli left office. While Martinelli lost immunity when he left office Monday, June 30, he regained it on Tuesday less than 24 hours later by joining Parlacen (the Central American Parliament.), reports La Prensa.
Expected to testify is former Ambassador of Italy in Panama Placido Vigo and two executive of Finmeccanica who authorized the payment of $70,000 to Lavítola for a secret luxury vacation that Martinelli and his associates took in Sardinia in 2011.
In June, Impregilo’s Panama representative Luciano Reguzzo confirmed to judges that his company was forced to make a transfer of money to a “secret and reserved” account belonging to Lavítola in Brazil.
On Tuesday, the Italian high court confirmed a conviction and 16-month sentence against Lavítola for the attempted extortion of Berlusconi. He allegedly demanded 7 million euros to remain silent about parties the former prime minister had with women.
The confirmation of this sentence is added to the previous 44-month sentence for embezzling public funds he is currently serving.
Lavitola is also accused in the Court of Naples for the alleged crime of having paid $4.1 million in bribes to a former legislator to disrupt the government, and also faces a trial in Rome for international corruption related to contracts in Panama. The next hearing in that case will be Sept. 16.