Accused Supreme Court Judge Resigns

PANAMA SUPREME COURT Judge, Victor Benavides, facing investigation by the National Assembly for allegedly selling decisions, resigned on Friday, June 19.
The resignation letter was submitted to the Presidency and the Court
In it he said his irrevocable resignation:  “responds to special personal and family circumstances because of the complaint, with clear claims for revenge, which has been promoted by one of the kidnappers of my Mother Dona Cecilia Pinilla de Benavides, for the vile offense for which he was condemned to a term of fifteen (15) years imprisonment given the aggravating fact, since it was an old woman of ninety-five (95) years old, blind, and with serious limitations of age,”
“Besides my express waiver, this is an act of honor and personal and family dignity, because the damage to my personal and family environment as a result of the lies I face, which is a test and a challenge I am ready to face in the appropriate bodies, as I have done until now, always with my head held high and with the support of our Lord Jesus, and those who know and appreciate me.
“I’m facing an imminent impeachment, in which I do not have the necessary guarantees of respect for my constitutional and legal rights,” he added.
Benavides is under investigation for allegedly committing crimes against the government and against the freedom and sexual integrity.
On Wednesday this week the deputy Jorge Alberto Rosas, who acts as a prosecutor in the case opened by the National Assembly against Benavides announced that there is “sufficient evidence” linking the magistrate with the possible commission of crimes of unjust enrichment, laundering, and corruption of officials.
Rosas announced that next week he would seek the dismissal of Benavides and his house arrest and the seizure of assets linked to illicit assumptions.
Benavides was denounced by Angel Alvarez, lawyer for Vicente Caballero, ex security guard for Benavides, currently serving time for the kidnapping of the magistrate’s mother five years ago.
Caballero said that when he worked for Benavides, he made several cash deposits in the BNP, in accounts linked to the magistrate reports La Prensa.