University rector fined for contempt

THE RECTOR of the University of Panama (UP) has been hit with a $300 fine for flouting a court order to reinstate a fired law professor.

 Gustavo Garcia de was fined by the Twelfth Civil Court for not complying with the reinstatement of the Vicente Archibold a professor of the Faculty of Law and Political Science.
After 29 years of practice as a professor of law, Archibold was dismissed July 25, 2013 by the Council of Faculties of Social Sciences and Humanities of the UP.

In an order of May 20 , the twelfth judge Juan Carlos Tatis said in contempt Garcia de Paredeswas in contempt because it did not comply with the order to suspend the removal of Archibold, although it was communicated to him five times.

The Professor lodged an appeal, which was admitted by the court on December 16, 2013, ordering the suspension of the dismissal and reinstatement of Archibold. But it never happened.

In the ruling fining Garcia de Paredes, Judge Tatis said that “there is no doubt that without founded arguments, the rector of the University of Panama remains reluctant to comply with the suspension order that has been previously communicated to him.”
When asked about the fine, Garcia de Paredes told La Prensa that he did not handle the issue and pointed to his legal advisor Luis Palacios, who did not return calls to his cell phone.
Archibold, meanwhile, he confirmed that has not yet been reinstated in his post.