Key suspects in PAN food scandal called to trial

A NUMBER  of alleged key players  in Panama’s dehydrated food scandal have been called to trial including  fugitive Adolfo Obarrio, the private secretary of former President Ricardo Martinelli alleged to have been the ruler;s messenger boy.

The 15th Criminal Court made the call for former National Assistance Program (PAN) Director Giacomo Tamburrelli and others accused of acts of corruption related to purchases of dehydrated food made by the agency. The trial is slated for May 30.

Also called to trial were former PAN official Angel Famiglietti, former Comptroller Gioconda Torres de Bianchini and business owner Rubén De Ycaza, the legal representative of the company Lerkshore International Limited, which received the disputed contracts.

In the same case, Judge Leslie Loaiza ordered the capture of Obarrio and a stay in the proceedings involving former ministers Lucy Molinar (Education) and Federico Suárez (Public Works), and former deputy ministers María Fábrega and Marta Susana de Varela.

Second Anti-Corruption Prosecutor Vielka Broce had asked for all nine to be called for trial in the case, which caused an estimated $44.9 million in economic damage to the state.

Obarrio’s whereabouts are unknown. He fled Panama with his wife on December 25, last year.

Loaiza has said that the public has an obligation to report on his whereabouts, reports La Prensa.

The Supreme Court has opened a case in this matter against Martinelli, who Tamburrelli identified as ordering him to issue the contracts to Lerkshore.

Martinelli has to be investigated by the court due to his membership in the Central American Parliament.