Martinelli spy mission investigation shelved

AFTER NEARLY a year of research, the fourth anti-corruption prosecutor, William Parodi, has requested the provisional closing of the investigation of an aerial spying mission by the National Authority of Land Management (Anati) on opposition candidates during the election.

 Parodi was investigating the alleged use of goods) to spy on properties of President Juan Carlos Varela ; his brother, Deputy José Luis Varela, and PRD presidential and vice presidential candidates, Juan Carlos Navarro and Gerardo Solis.
On December 4, 2013, Anati personnel boarded a helicopter to fly over the beach houses of Varela, Navarro and Solis, and the Hacienda San Isidro, in Pesé owned by the Varela family.
On that tour photographs of the properties were taken, and later used by newspapers owned by then president, Ricardo Martinelli.
Parodi said that the investigation, which began in December 2013 after a public denunciation by deputy “Popi” Varela, could not establish the crime of embezzlement by use of state resources.
The prosecutor said that a report from Anati regarding the flyby was requested, but the report did not produce evidence of the use of state resources.
This research also discarded asinvalid proceedings, a recording in which Anati officials, among them then director Franklin Oduber, were heard discussing the overflights.
The group agreed to create an official version of the incident. The audio cited was dismissed because it was obtained without the authorization of a judicial officer. However, Parodi warned that if new evidence arises he may request the reopening of the case.