Meco makes Blue Apple collaboration deal

The Costa Rican construction company MECO signed a collaboration agreement with the Sixth Prosecutor’s Office, investigating the “Blue Apple” bribery scandal.

The deal was, to avoid a trial in a case of payment of gifts to Panamanian officials. Carlos Cerdas Araya, president of Constructora MECO, earlier told La Nación that everything is about “a misunderstanding. “

According to the Prosecutor’s Office, MECO and seven other construction companies would have turned over $40 million in bribes, between 2011 and 2012, to senior officials of the Ministry of Public Works of Panama to change or streamline procedures and disbursements for the progress of public infrastructure projects.

The monies were deposited, in agreement with the Panamanian authorities, into accounts and banking services of the Blue Apple Service limited company and, once there, they were transferred to other corporations in Hong Kong, the United States, and the British Virgin Islands.