Accused blames Martinelli, asks State protection

RICARDO MARTINELLI, former president of Panama ordered the former Director of the National Assistance Program (PAN) to make a $45 million contract for dehydrated food according to the ex-official during interrogation byan Anticorruption Prosecutor .

The former director) Giacomo Tamburrelli, testified during 12 hours of questioning on Monday, December 15, that the Martinelli “ordered him to” jreports  La Prensa.
Second Anticorruption Prosecutor Lizzett Chevalier, ordered the precautionary measure of house arrest for Tamburelli i under investigation for the crime of embezzlement in connection with alleged cost overruns on the $45 millioncontract awarded, in 2010, to Lerkshore International Limited SA, whose president is Rubén De Ycaza.

“Martinelli was the one who ordered me” said Tamburrelli, who. in the interrogation “cooperated and revealed the modus operandi of how many things were done [in the PAN], and mentioned the name of prominent people [officials in the last government]” said the source. La Estrella de Panama  reports that Tamburelli fears for his life and has asked for State protection.
The measure of house arrest would have been a possible negotiation between Tamburrelli and the prosecution in exchange for his personal safety in revealing details of corruption in the PAN says La Prensa.
The investigation against Tamburrelli began on July 21, after an anonymous complaint that gave details of the contract or “fast, easy, and hassle-free money.” Tamburelli was the secretary general the CD party founded, funded and directed by Martinelli. He was part of the “Zero Circle” of Martinelli insiders, several of whom are currently involved in corruption investigations.