Justice Panama and Guatemala
WHILE A WOMAN accused of major self enrichment in Panama’s National Assistance Program, (PAN) has been allowed bail because of health problems, and the country’s former president holds court in luxurious self-imposed exile in Miami, the Guatemala justice system takes a tougher approach.
The former Guatemala, Vice President Roxana Baldetti, accused of leading La Linea (The Line) network of customs fraud, has been returned to the Santa Teresa prison after being admitted to a sparse military medical center for more than a month.
Baldetti, in custody since August, went into the Army Medical Center on September 13, receiving intravenous treatment for a blood bacteria.
On Wednesday October 14 Judge Miguel Angel Galvez ruled that she be returned to jail after a National Institute of Forensic Sciences (Inacif) evaluation confirmed “positive development”.
The state forensic institution has made at least six evaluations of Baldetti’s health since her arrest August 21, accused of belonging to a corruption structure in the tax collecting agency.
The former Vice President, resigned May 8, following massive street demonstrations which also brought down the country’s president is accused of passive bribery offenses, customs fraud and conspiracy.
Inacif said Baldetti’s infections showed “positive improvements.” But she should continue with outpatient treatment and within a week promised a double check
The 53-years-old journalist was admitted to the Military Hospital Medical Center, which belongs to Guatemalan army, which has publicly stated their opposition to the former Vice President’s stay in the hospital. Baldetti was arrested in August and sent to the of Matamoros barracks military prison. But on September 3 Judge Galvez ordered her transfer to the Santa Teresa prison with other common criminals.
In Panama, boutique owner Poulett Morales, accused of fattening her bank balance with over $1.6 million in sales to PAN, has not yet seen the inside of a “common prison” and when sick was taken to a high end private hospital, and has now been released to more congenial house arrest for humanitarian reasons.
The former Guatemala president, Otto Perez Molina, who resigned September 3 after three and a half years in power and was arrested the same day, has received the same “common prison” treatment as his ex-vice president.
Both Guatemalan detainees sing the same “political persecution” ditty as Panama’s ex-figurehead, Ricardo Martinelli but without the same home comforts.The irony is taht it was to the safety of Guatemala based Parlacen that Martinelli fled while his successor was being annointed.
