OFF THE CUFF: Odebrecht trawl nets Martinelli insiders, family
THE NEED for prayer for Riccardo Francolini, the former president of the board of directors of Caja de Ahorros (CA), and head of Panama’s NexTV grew more acute on Thursday, April 21, as he was taken from his cell in El Renacer to face anti-corruption prosecutors over links to the Odebreccht bribery scandal.
Days earlier he had complained about the lack of Catholic chapel facilities for his prayer routine. On Thursday he was hauled off to face interrogation for alleged offenses in addition to the ones that had already landed him behind bars awaiting trial.
Francolini was a business associate of ex-president Ricardo Martinelli and a member of his inner political circle
He arrived soon after 10 am at the Special AntiCorruption Prosecutor’s Office in the Avesa building on Via España, to be questioned as part of the investigation into bribes paid by construction company Odebrecht.
Beforehand, he was reviewed by doctors at El Renacer, to ensure he was fit to be questioned.
Prosecutor Tania Sterling filed charges and ordered the questioning of Francolini and 16 other
people, including the brother and children of former president Ricardo Martinelli namely Mario
Martinelli and Ricardo Alberto and Luis Enrique Martinelli Linares former Minister of Public
Works Federico José Suárez, The director of Odebrecht in Panama André Rabello, and the former director of the Financial Analysis Unit (UAF) Amado Barahona, among
Odebrecht has admitted to paying bribes totaling $788 million to officials in 12 countries including Panama, where at least $59 million was handed to local officials.
Francolini is already facing trial for his role in approving a $9 million loan to the company constructing the never finished Amador Conference Center during the Martinelli administration.
