Judge accused of selling decisions, pedophelia,

THE FUTURE of another judge of Panama’s Supreme Court could be in the balance following a videoed message alleging corruption and pedophilia circulating on social networks and aired on Saturday April 18 on TVN.

The judge is Victor Benavides, whose period in office comes to an end on the first day of 2016..
His accuser is, Vicente Vicente Zamorano, former security chief for Benavides, now serving a 15 year sentence for kidnapping the judge’s 95 year old mother
Zamorano is seen in the video reading a letter denouncing his former boss. The letter bears the stamp of the prison system. It is dated March 26, but it was not sealed by the prison system until April 3.
In the letter he accuses Benavides of selling decisions and pedophilia and of homosexual encounters with minors.
From prison in Santiago, Veraguas province, where he is being held,Vicente  Caballero Zamorano sent a letter to the Credentials Committee of the National Assembly, mandated by the Constitution to judge the judges of the Supreme Court.
Zamorano has been in jail since 2010 is serving 15 years for kidnapping mother Benavides, whom he was supposed to protect.
In the video Caballero Zamorano appears fin the prison reading the letter, also copied to the Attorney General’s Office.
Zamorano Caballero added that while he worked with Benavides, on several occasions he was entrusted to make deposits at the National Bank of Panama for amounts of $15,000 and $20,000.

According to the complainant, the money came from fees for the judge for ‘negotiated decisions’.
That money says the former security guard, was ‘wasted’ in expenses for homosexual activities with children under 15 years of age who in the city of Santiago.
The names of minors are in in the letter, but have not been revealed by newspapers which carried the story.
According to the complainant, the judge bought them clothes and even a car for minors and paid for hotels and accommodation when he visited Santiago, Boquete and other places.
Although the letter is addressed to the Credentials Committee, of the Assembly there is no knowledge of the document says La Estrella. Deputy Elijah Castillo, a committee member said he is unaware that the complaint had reached the committee.