Martinelli threatened family, tried to buy silence -Tamburrelli

GIACOMO TAMBURRELLI,  a former director of National Assistance Program (PAN), ton Thursday, December 18, accused ex-president Ricardo Martinelli of  embezzling millions from the institution.

Tamburrelli under house arrest while the Second CorruptionProsecutor  investigates a contract for the $45 million purchase of dehydrated r food, said in an interview with TVN Channel 2 that “Mr. Ricardo Martinelli wanted to buy my silence, but I will not be intimidated “. reports 

“That’s the modus operandi of them, you’re going to mention me and I will denounce” he said.

He said that Adolfo “Chichi” De Obarrio, former private secretary of  Martinelli when he was president arrived with orders over what to buy.

“Chichi De Obarrio knows that the instructions came from the president,” he said, while explaining that he ordered the purchase of wheelchairs, food bags and “many things”.

“The guideline was’ Giacomo, is not going to reinvent the wheel, we go with Lerkshore”.

On December 15  Tamburrelli was interrogated for 12 hours by prosecutor  Lizzett Chevalier. After that process, she issued the injunction for house arrest.

During questioning, Tamburrelli said Martinelli “ordered me” make the contract worth $ 45 million to acquire dehydrated food from   Lerkshore International Limited, whose chairman is Ruben De Ycaza, also under house arrest by order of .the prosecutor.

“That was one of the biggest projects amount that I was assigned. At the time it was the emblem of the president’s [Martinelli’s]campaign and  he was urging that the project be given, “he recalled.

Tamburrelli said he was keen to cooperate with the investigations of the prosecution, “and I do not intend to leave the country. I’ve been out and I have returned.

He said that when shopping for food he received a direct call from the “president,” Martinelli, to say that “this project goes because it goes”. To proceed with the purchase, he convened the board of PAN, as the project cost exceeded the $300,000, the limit amount by which the head of PAN could make direct contracts.. The chairman of the board is the Minister of the Presidency.

“The guideline was ‘Giacomo, is not going to reinvent the wheel, we go with Lerkshore’. I could not act without the board, “he said.

“The direct order was that we were with Lerkshore” he said.

He recalled that he was appointed  TO the former Social Investment Fund (now converted into PAN) in 2009, as a member since 1997 of the Democratic Change party, of which Martinelli is president and founder.

Tamburrelli  said  that he did not want to lie to the prosecutor  and after his declaration his conscience was clear.

On the participation of former Minister of the Presidency, Demetrio “Jimmy” “Papdimitriu said did not attend the meeting at which the contracting of Lerkshore was agreed.” He was replaced by the deputy minister [at that time, it was Maria Fabrega] “he added.

According to Tamburrelli, Martinelli wants to be removed  from the statements made, and Tamburelli  will not “get anything” saying  that Jimmy had no significant role in theproject.

The prosecution has called Tamburrelli  to appear again to broaden the declaration and “give the names” of the others involved, announced in the TVN interview

SHAMAH’S ROLE
“I feel very bad. I am in poor health. This has it changed me, “he added. “

Ihave received many threats. To my family, my children … I will continue appearing and expanding my statement, “he said.

He said that Martinelli once reached the heart s of his family, along with Salomon Shamah, to threaten my wife “with my own recordings”.

“He wanted to intimidate me and buy my silence,” he said.