Ex-top cop spy equipment hearing suspended again

A case dealing with the loss of $13.4 million spying equipment used during the Ricardo Martinelli administration has again been suspended

The Eighth Criminal Court suspended the hearing over the loss of a hacking device after the defense of the Gustavo Pérez former director of the National Police and director of the National Security Council said it will present a protection of guarantees.

The hearing was previously scheduled for June 7, but was also suspended because Pérez’s lawyer presented a medical disability certificate. On that occasion, The Anti-Corruption Prosecutor requested the judge to send Pérez to the Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences to check his health status, a path followed several times by ex-president  Ricardo Martinelli. Both men are detained in El Renacer prison.

In the June 7 hearing, in addition to Pérez, Giacomo Tamburrelli the director of the former National Assistance  Program (PAN) and the former director of the National Security Council  Alejandro Garuz were also scheduled to appear.

This investigation originated from a complaint filed by the then head of the  Security Council Rolando López after the spying machine was lost.

It was purchased in 2010 for $ 3.4 million with money from the former Social Investment Fund.