Supreme court scandal splits judges
PANAMA’S scandal ridden Supreme Court is engaged in an internal cat and dog fight as judges struggle to figure out how to deal with the furore raised by one of their members who revealed interference of ex-president Ricardo Martinelli in Court activities and alleged judges shelved cases and sold decisions.
That, combined with the re-election of Jose Ayu Prado as president of the court, while he faces numerous charges before the National Assembly, has led to calls for the resignations of all the bench.
On Monday, January 18, the nine justices were planning to meet to decide action to “improve” the image of the institution, after the statements of Judge Harry Diaz.
The meeting was held, but not with the intended purpose, since the magistrate Luis Ramon Fabrega did not attend because he believes that “it is not the time to mend fences and to move on, as some colleagues have proposed.”
This was announced in a note addressed by Fábrega hours before, to Ayu Prado referring to allegations that Martinelli appointed him to the Administrative Division l full Supreme Court of Justice (CSJ) remains divided.
The meeting was held, but not with the intended purpose, since judge Luis Ramon Fabrega not attend because he believes that “it is not the time to mend fences and to move on, as some colleagues have proposed, “ reports La Prensa.
This was announced in a note addressed Fábrega hours before to the president of. Diaz did not participate.
Fabrega is upset because it was reported that Martinelli appointed him in the Administrative Division of the court to please his sister Mary, who was Deputy Minister of the Presidency in the past administration.
“It is the lowest blow that I received in my life,” Fabrega wrote
“It is my firm belief that in the best interests of this institution is not the time to mend fences or turn the page as some colleagues suggested, but rather is an opportune time to clean it and those who have denigrated his image take responsibility as have other colleagues in the recent past, “
Diaz also referred to the election of Ayu Prado for the period 2016-2017. He said this betrayed him because he had promised the vote to be his replacement. He also said that the reelection of Ayu Prado was “forged” by Fabrega.
On Monday, Jose Ayu Prado asked the Attorney General,, Kenya Porcell; Comptroller Federico Humbert, and Angelica Maytín director of tof Transparency and Access to Information Authority (Antai), , to examine the assertions of Diaz.
Humbert and Maytín have also been asked to audit travel and tours conducted by officials of the judiciary, between January 2014 and December 2015, “to determine whether they have engaged in embezzlement by judicial tourism
Ayu Prado requested that such investigations are handled under the presumption of innocence and confidential case files.
