Corruption suspect no-show for interrogation

BUSINESSMAN and Panama Canal Authority (ACP) director Nicolas Corcione Perez Balladares, failed to appear on Thursday, July 6 for a scheduled appearance before Organized Crime Prosecutor Nahaniel Murghas for interrogation for alleged money laundering through accounts linked to jailed former magistrate Alejandro Moncada Luna.

 Defense lawyer Alberto Moreno, presented a “warning” alleging that the Murgas was not competent to investigate his client, as a member of the board of the ACP.

“Members of the board of the Canal, under Article 318 of the Constitution, are directors of an autonomous entity. Article 40 of the Code of Criminal Procedure states that the directors of autonomous entities will be judged by the Criminal Chamber of the Court. In other words, if he [Murgas] makes such an investigation it is void, “said lawyer Moreno.

Originally, the building contractor was cited to appear July 29, but did not attend because, Moreno said he was out of the country, on a “family” trip planned in February. The, Corcione Group whose CEO is a director of the ACP issued a statement that it “is not in any way evading justice. Instead, he is being informed of the details of the case and accordingly assesses its options with his lawyers. “

President Ricardo Martinelli was linked to the case by Jorge Espino and Maria Gabriela Reyna, who are preventively detained by order of prosecutor Murgas.

Corcione’s company , which was awarded several works in the judiciary Moncada Luna was president of th Supreme Court The prosecutor says that Corcione Balladares- Perez paid $400,000 thousand to Cubemu, SA, a company linked to Ricardo “Ricky” Calvo, Felipe “Pipo” Virzi and Moncada Luna, and another $200,000 to Collection GC, SA, a company allegedly linked to Corcione Perez Balladares.