OFF THE CUFF: Detention follows political charade

THE CRIMINAL interrogation of  an ex-cabinet minister  suspected of $2.5 million illegal enrichment  during the Ricardo Martinelli administration led to  a political rally  that blocked traffic, and had the organizers warned for noise  above permitted levels and drew complaints from  neighboring businesses.

Alma Lorena Cortés, the former Minister of Labor and Workforce Development was facing questioning by Sixth anti-corruption prosecutor Aurelio Vásquez on Thursday August 11.  Cortés   is  the Martinelli confidant  that he   had attempted to parachute in as the leader  of the CD political party he founded. The move backfired and caused  a split in the party with deputies rebelling  against the diktat from Panama’s former president.

The unjust enrichment investigation began , after an audit by the Comptroller General determined that Cortés cannot justify a net worth of $ 2.5 million.

Cortés, , arrived  at the Avesa, building  on Via Espana where anti-corruption prosecutors’ offices are located at 9.20 am She was met as  expected by  CD faithful led by Martinelli spin doctor Eduardo Camacho and the former First Lady, Marta  Martinelli  brandishing  megaphones, and banners, and with ghetto blasters turned up high volume rallying  music from Martinelli’s election campaign.

Before her arrival, the Cortes  lawyer, Carlos Carrillo, told the waiting media: there was no case to answer and the Comptroller had it all wrong

The CD demonstrator chanted  “persecution” and “revenge” and Shortly before noon, blocked three lanes of traffic.

The combination of  loud music and the closed road caught the attention of Bella Vista corregidora, Karina Ruda, who arrived e with a document from the Ministry of Health saying that the music exceeded the allowed decibel level.

“Five tests were made, all went above permitted levels. You have the right to protest, but the issue is that they have to have an authorization from the mayor, “said Ruda.

La  Prensa reports that the music  intensity was lowed for a while, but by mid-afternoon the police arrived. An officer drew the attention of the group to the uproar. He met with Camacho, who told him he had the right to protest, but  the police said that workers in the area had complained about the noise.

After 12 hours of questioning the Public Ministry issued a  statement that prosecutor Vasquez had ordered preventive detention for the former Minister and the  investigation would continue the next day.