Delay of $29 million corruption hearing outrage
CIVIL SOCIETY is calling for an international commission against impunity, similar to the one that works in Guatemala and Honduras to ensure the punishment of corruption.
The proposal came from the the executive director of the Citizen Alliance for Justice, Magaly Castillo on Monday July 14 after the second postponement of a hearing against Ricardo Martinelli insider, Felipe Virzi, in the failed Tonosi irrigation project scandal.
Castillo issued the call because of what she considers mistakes in the administration of justice,
The preliminary hearing of the case, which was set for Monday in the Fourteenth Criminal Court, was postponed until July 10, 2017, with an alternate date of September 11 next year, after one of the accused, ex-vice-president Virzi, changed lawyers and asked for a new hearing date so that the lawyer can study the file and prepare his defense.
The hearing was originally scheduled for last July 18. But hours before , Virzi acquired electoral jurisdiction, immunity after declaring his candidacy for one of the vice presidencies of the National Democratic Party (PRD) National Executive Committee (CEN). The contest was held on October 30; Virzi lost.
Castillo said that what happened in this case is a sign that in this country what prevails “is impunity in white collar crimes and that this will be repeated in all other cases of corruption” investigated.
She said that in this case the alleged asset damage to the State was $29 million and has not a single ex-official has been arrested, since all are granted a precautionary measure of country jail and have no trouble in delaying the process.
She recalled that the Third Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office, investigating the case, requested on January 5, the trial of 30 people whose lawyers are using all the tactics within their reach to delay the action of justice, a situation that the judges are allowing.
Annette Planells, of the Independent Movement (Movin), said that it is frustrating that these resources are used to delay judicial processes.
She said that the judiciary should take action to avoid these situations.
“Late justice is not justice” she said and it is necessary to give the greatest speed to the processes.
Defense view
Attorney Alfredo Vallarino, of Virzi’s defense team , claimed that they requested more time to study the file.
He noted that the suspension of the hearing last July cannot be attributed exclusively to his client, since other lawyers had not been notified and the hearing was not even opened by the judge of the case, José Ángel Carrera.
In this case, prosecutor Zuleyka Moore requested the criminal prosecution of Virzi and his partner, Ricardo Ricky Calvo; Of the agricultural development ministers Emilio Kieswetter and Óscar Osorio; From ex-candidate to CD deputy) Porfirio Ellis; the directors of the contractor Hidalgo & Hidalgo (H & H) Marco Albán Crespo and Víctor Ríos, and 23 other people.
Virzi has said in testimony that he was told by Ricardo Martinelli, then president, how to spread the illicit gains among members of the inner circle, some of whom have now fled the country.
