Calls for investigation of judge multiply

THE GROUNDSWELL of questions over the cash purchase of luxury apartments worth more than $1.7 million by a Supreme Court judge  became a groundswell on Tuesday September 30 as a group of prominent citizens belonging toThe Movement of Free Citizens of Panama (Movin) asked the National Assembly to investigate Judge Alejandro Moncada Luna.

“The accusations are very serious and this cannot in any way be forgotten,” the group said. “The National Assembly has to intervene. It is their duty to show us that they have the ability to investigate these serious allegations. Failure to do so would involve being an accomplice. It is the opportunity to demonstrate that we have institutions that can protect us from abuse and arbitrariness of some unscrupulous officials.”

The group said it is “one thing to suspect and listen to rumors, and quite another to see a public deed with a fact so obvious and blatant, it is rubbing it in our faces.” Movin is a group formed by citizens such as Federico Humbert, Alfredo Motta, Juan Antonio Tejada, Ricardo Zubieta and Augusto Arosemena, among others.

National Assembly President Adolfo Valderrama has asked lawyers to submit allegations with evidence against Judge Moncada.

President Juan Carlos Varela said the judge must “give an explanation” on where the money for the apartments came from.