MONEY LAUNDERING: Superintendency moves against Financial Pacific
THE SUPERINTENDENCY of brokerages in Panama has filed a complaint with Public Ministry against the Financial Pacific company involving the High Spirit account.
An employee of the company Mayte Pellegrini who was held in prison for two years, blamed for a $12 million shortage, alleged that the High Spirit account belonged to Ricardo Martinelli and was used to manipulate the shares of Petaquilla Gold on the Toronto Stock Exchange.
The auditor who first uncovered problems at the brokerage has disappeared, and is believed by his family and neighbors to have been killed, another investigator was stabbed and wounded, others received death threats and Pellegrini has asked for police protection.
A former senior official at the Superintendency is a fugitive. The names of other prominent figures from the Martinelli era have surfaced during investigations, including current Supreme Court President Jose Ayu Prado, and former Tourism Czar, Salomon Shamah.
The information was confirmed by the Superintendent of Securities, Marelissa Quintero, who said that the complaint was introduced on Monday afternoon, June 8.
The claim is for the alleged commission of the crimes of money laundering and illicit transfers.