Controversial judge shuts down $23 million corruption probes

A controversial judge renowned for his dismissal of corruption cases involving high profile figures from the previous administration on Friday, December 21 annulled three prosecutions of the alleged theft of millions from the National Aid Program (PAN).

Fifteenth criminal judge, Leslie Loaiza filed cases that according to the Comptroller General had possible patrimonial damage of over $23 million.

Included among the defendants let off the hook were Mario Martinelli brother of ex-president Ricardo Martinelli, and  Ricardo Martinelli’s former private secretary Adolfo Chichi De Obarrio, and the former head of purchases of the PAN Abraham Williams.

Williams was a fugitive for more than three years. In October 2018, he was apprehended in Costa Rica by Interpol. In November, Loaiza gave him a $50,000 bail.  Rafael Guardia Jaén, former director of the PAN, pointed to Williams as his “right hand” in the tenders awarded by the entity.

De Obarrio, who never appeared before the court and who is the subject of an Interpol red alert, is named by the prosecution as the person who decided to whom the contracts were granted.

Loaiza who has threatened to sue those who criticize his decisions, some of which have been overturned on appeal. alleged violations of due process. There are 36 beneficiaries. of resolutions with which he annulled three processes followed for possible damage to the patrimony of the now-defunct PAN.

These are for alleged anomalies in the Housing and Housing program of the Ministry of Housing, in the purchase of grain and in the rental of helicopters.

In November, Loaiza had already excluded from the process former Health Ministers Franklin Vergara Jaén and Javier Díaz, and Agricultural Development Emilio Kieswetter and Óscar Osorio Casal.

He also benefited Franklin Oduber Burillo, former director of the National Land Administration Authority; to Serafín Sánchez González, former vice minister of Health, and Arturo Alejandro Alvarado De Icaza, former director of the Civil Protection System.