$7 million shell company check found in bank raid

ANTI-CORRUPTION Prosecutors carried out a  second inspection of the offices of Caja de Ahorros on Thursday  October 20.

They were looking for evidence in connection with an investigation into a loan made by the state-owned bank to the contractor working on the failed convention center project in Amador.

The raid took  place while key figures in the bank scandal were being questioned.

During the inspection , the prosecutors obtained a $7 million check that was used to transfer funds from CA to an account at Banco Universal, then owned by the Virzi family.

That account was owned by the shell company Summer Venture, which has been connected to Felipe Virzi and Ricardo Calvo.

Both are close associates of ex-President Ricardo Martinelli and have been linked to a number of corruption investigations.

Neither man had any connection to the Amador project which would have justified the payment.

Prosecutors say that the money was subsequently moved to an account at the failed brokerage house Financial Pacific whose two key officials have fled the country

The prosecutors were also seeking information about the approval process for the loan, and the involvement of former bank officials.

Former, board member Fernando Correa and Manager Jayson Pastor, were questioned Thursday while the inspection was underway.

Other former board members Ricardo Arango Pezet and Anastacio Ruiz De Leon  had their Friday  questioning postponed.

Arango must return on Tuesday October 25 and Ruiz De Leon, on Wednesday October 26