Panama corp a screen to hide bribes to Martinelli

AGAFIA CORP., created in  Panama  “was nothing more than a screen to hide bribes to former President Ricardo Martinelli  The company had no experience in selling radars, helicopters and cartographic map and was earning a sales commission. Prosecutors say it was a screen to hide a bribe, “said Panama’s ambassador in Italy, Fernando Berguido.

In an interview broadcast on TVN on Monday August 31, Berguido said that

Agafia Corp. was established weeks before the signing of the “Memorandum of Understanding on Technical Cooperation” between Panama and Italy, on June 30, 2010, which provided for the purchase of 19 radar Finmeccanica, 6 helicopters AgustaWestland and a cartographic map, for about $ 250 million.

Berguido said that there was “a conspiracy between government officials Martinelli and the company Finmeccanica” to do business, and reaffirmed that Panama has sufficient evidence to challenge the legality and legitimacy of those contracts which, in his opinion, “was flawed from its outset”.

Berguido revelations are based on multiple evidence gathered by the Italian judiciary, which has had access to the Panamanian government. Among them: Valter Lavítola sentences, documents, witness statements, expert reports and the same contracts between subsidiaries of Finmeccanica with a company called Agafia Corp., also transcripts of wiretaps to Lavítola, “architect” of the contracts are included with Finmeccanica.

With this  evidence Panama lawyers  have sued for annulment. “Panama cannot look away, because those contracts were null and void on the grounds of misuse of power,” said Berguido.

The diplomat also questioned the fact that the contracts were not disclosed in the Official Gazette, as required by law, but were secret, claiming it was a matter of “national security.

“These contracts, including annexes, were never published in the Official Gazette. They were not divulged because it was said  to be a national security issue, but that is false,” “said Berguido.

Whoever  questioned the deal, including deputies, dissidents and journalists, were immediately disqualified by authorities, ridiculed or marked as cooperating with drug traffickers.

The radar contracts (SelexI and helicopters (AgustaWestland) were signed by the former Minister of Public Security Jose Raul Mulino, who since last Monday wrote several posts on the  subject on in his Twitter account, reports La  Prensa.

Mulino  told La Prensa on Tuesday: “I have never received any illegal money. I did not go to the government to commit a crime, I went to work and left my life in those years. My life has been investigated fully. No I do not fear anything  If I respond, we must all respond, the entire Cabinet. Varela and Panameñistas included.

Berguido “said that Italian prosecutors have shown that what was afoot was the appearance of legality to get a commission from an unlawful act”.

He  emphasized that the records in Italy provide “an invaluable wealth of evidence,

There have been two convictions so far against Lavitola with sentences totaling 47 months. He is still facing further charges.