Ex-VP continues to dodge justice bullet

FORMER  vice-president, Felipe Virzi continues to stall justice as for  the second time the 14th Criminal Court postponed the conclusion of the preliminary hearing on the failed Tonosi irrigation project.

The hearing was delayed following a request from Virzi, who had also asked that the proceedings be delayed the first time.

Virzi a close ally of ex-president Ricardo Martinelli reported to the court that he had changed lawyers.

He asked for a delay so that his new lawyer, Alfredo Vallarino, could learn the details of the case.

Judge Vilma Urieta postponed the hearing until July 10, 2017 and as alternate date, Sep11.

The first hearing was postponed because Virzi had registered to run for office in the PRD party, which gave him immunity. He lost the Oct. 30 election.

Virzi is one of the defendants linked to abnormalities in the contract between the Ministry of Agricultural Development and the company Hidalgo & Hidalgo (H&H) to build the irrigation project, which was never completed.

Despite not finishing the project, or making any progress on it, H&H received disbursements from the state for $37.4 million.

Of that amount, $10 million was received by Virzi. He has told prosecutors that former Ricardo Martinelli instructed him on how the money should be distributed.

Virzi is under investigation in other corruption cases. He was released from preventive detention to house arrest because of his age. While under arrest he allegedly perpetrated another fraud.