Attempt to block bribes probe

PROSECUTORS have ordered an audit  of the finances of  Pele System, Inc. under  investigation for  suspected  linked to it as part of a contract it received during the Martinelli  government from the Panama Maritime Authority. Meanwhile  attorney Miguel Batista,  has sought to block the investigation saying  the claim brought by current authority Administrator Jorge Barakat is not valid since the original contract was properly awarded. The claim was filed before Judge Luis Ramón Fábrega, who may not be eligible to hear the case because he was part of the Board of Directors of the authority when the contract was awarded. Between 2010 and 2014, Pele System received more than $31 million in contracts from the government. Most of that amount, $25 million, was from the Maritime Authority. One of these contracts, to provide cellular and high speed internet service, was suspended due to irregularities. Since then, investigators have discovered questionable financial transactions made between the firm and foreign shell companies connected to Panama officials. .