1,500 days since auditor of scandal brokerage disappeared

THIS WEEK    will mark 1500 days since an auditor from the Department of Supervision of the Panama Superintendency of Market Securities, wearing only shorts and tee shirt, disappeared without trace.

Vernon Ramos, 52, a trusted and respected employee had been studying the books of the scandal plagues Financial Pacific (FP) brokerage, that was later to be immersed in allegations linking ex-president Ricardo Martinelli to a secret High Spirit account used to manipulate shares in Petaquilla Gold, and to enrich friends and associates including at least one high roller linked to the Waked family consortium

Later accusations by an employee of the now closed brokerage who sat in jail for two years, implicated former Attorney General , now chief magistrate Ayu Prado, and tourism manager and Martinelli confident  , Salomon Shamah in attempts to get her to change her depositions in return for release from detention and a million dollar payment.

“The uncertainty in the case is similar to that of the first day, with no answer to reassure the family, and society in general, what really happened with Vernon Ramos.” Says El Siglo

WORRYING
The  last time Ramos  was seen alive was on Friday November 16, 2012. At that  time a series of audits he conducted  had uncovered  various anomalies in the brokerage which was suspected of embezzling an estimated t $12 million.

During investigations into the case, a protected witness testified that he was offered $300,000 for the head of Ramos and the alleged perpetrators were in  ‘Boca La Caja’ in Paitilla.

He  added that the order for his disappearance came from the La Joya, prison  said attorney  Kevin Moncada at the time.

Judicial authorities reacted by saying that this was not confirmed but that there were certain facts “to be hopeful.”

His family and friends have conducted a long campaign to uncover the truth, and are convinced that Ramos is dead. Meanwhile the former owners of the now closed brokerage still walk the streets nd Martinelli lives in Miami,