OFF THE CUFF: Cashier gets 6 years for $5,000 theft
A CASHIER in a Cooperative (Credit Union) for employees of the Ministry of Housing and Land Management, has been jailed for six years for stealing $5,000.
According to the The Seventh Criminal Court ruling, the cashier, Yamel Downer, was guilty of financial crimes to the detriment of the financial institution. He entered the system of financial records of the cooperative and after altering the figures managed to grab about $5,000 from savers.
Despite the evidence against him during the preliminary hearing, on September25 and October 7 Downer pleaded not guilty to the charges. In the sentenced, signed by the seventh criminal judge, Felipe Fuentes, Lopez, Downer was also disqualified for a period of 24 months for the exercise of public functions, counted from the end of the jail term.
If the same measurement of over one year behind bars for each $1000 is applied to any of the high profile figures under investigation for disappearing multi millions, what will their sentences be? Prosecutors have already seized $13 million hidden in different bank accounts of the former head of the National Assistance program (PAN), Rafael Guardia, currently behind bars in the investigation unit’s cells. They have also grabbed a $400,000 yacht and mansions and a luxury apartment.
Former Minister Guillermo Ferrufino has acquired multiple mansions and property, suspended Supreme Court Judge Moncada Luna, under house arrest is endeavoring to explain his $1.7 million apartment purchase, and has had $1.3 million seized from a Banco Universal Account. Giacomo Tamborelli, another former head of PAN is under investigation for allegedly having pocketed scores of millions, and there are more “sardines” to be netted by anti-corruption prosecutors before they get to the “shark” . With some $840 million, and counting, having allegedly been creamed from the public purse during the previous administration, judges will have to create a new rule of thumb before sentencing. Will any of the upper echelon join Mr Downer in La Joya? Don’t bet on it.
Although big time offenders may have followed the principle “it’s better to be hanged for a sheep as a lamb” at worst they could share the fresh air of Renacer with former dictator Manuel Noriega, or, with newly acquired “health” problems be sentenced to house arrest and sip champagne and spoon caviar on the patio with visiting undiscovered ladrones. Meanwhile they are all innocent until found guilty and many high end attorneys will see their retirement nest eggs balloon.
