Delinquent tax theft trial date set

THE  PRELIMINARY hearing  of a case involving the alleged skimming of millions of dollars from  delinquent  taxpayers, with much of it said to have been delivered in cash to former president Ricardo Martinelli has  been set for September 3.

The First Criminal Court has scheduled a preliminary hearing for Cobrnzas del Istmo officials Cristóbal Salerno and Magaly Ramos, and former Revenue Director Luis Cucalón.

Prosecutors plan to ask that charges against Alessandra Salerno be dismissed. Cristóbal Salerno is under house arrest while Ramos has been banned from leaving the country. Cucalon originally detained in a police cell, is hospitalized at Punta Pacífica Hospital.

Cobranzas del Istmo allegedly received some $30 million in irregular payments as part of its state contract to collect delinquent taxes.