$35 million controversial ruling quashed.

PANAMA’S Second Superior Court of Justice  has overturned  the ruling of a  controversial lower court judge  releasing  over $35 million and a bunch of luxury cars to  a criminally indicted former collaborator of ex-president Ricardo Martinell.

The  original ruling came 11 months ago  from  controversial First Criminal Judge , Rolando Quesada Vallespi, in favor of  Cristóbal Salerno, majority shareholder of Cobranzas del Istmo, S.A. (CISA), which in the past government had the monopoly to collect the delinquent portfolio of the State.

First Criminal Court Judge Rolando Quesada Vallespi  is still, awaiting the results of a judicial inquiry into his previous decisions.

The decision of the Second Court recognizes the Seizure ordered by the First  Anticorruption Prosecutor Tania Sterling,  of six vehicles, 31 fixed terms and 16 bank accounts linked to Salerno and his  familiy, as part of the investigation into irregularities of the contract awarded to CISA in August 2010.

The ruling of the Second Court, dated April 24, bears the signature of Judges José A. Hoo Justiniani and Adolfo Mejía.