Setbacks for tranit embezzlement defendants

Two prominent figures including a former minister have had court setbacks  in the Diablos Rojos (Red Devils)  compensation embezzlement .scandal  i

The Eighth Criminal Court denied a release bond in for  Roberto Salomón Homsany, and the Second Court of Justice rejected an appeal for annulment presented by the former Minister of Government, Jorge Ricardo Fábrega.

Homsany and Fabrega are under-investigated by the Public Prosecutor’s Office for alleged embezzlement in the compensation of “red devils” buses during the  Ricardo Martinelli administration (2009-2014).

In the case of Homsany, in a ruling of May 17, Judge Leira Terán Turcios rejected bail request for bail for Homsany,  in view of the risk of flight escape -with  the economic resourceshe he  has-, and destruction of evidence.

The Anticorruption Prosecutor ordered the arrest of Homsany on April 3, 2019, after establishing that through the company Fincap, SA, of which he is legal representative, 18 buses were compensated: 17 supposedly operated on 10 routes,

Among the routes were: Chilibre / Corredor Norte, Pedregal / Corredor Sur, Panama Viejo / Avenida Balboa / Albrook, Torrijos Carter / Corredor Norte, Panama Viejo / Avenida Balboa / Calle 12.

The ruling states that all certificates of operation paid to Fincap, SA entered the bus compensation process with resolutions of the years 2010 and 2011, and that the possible impact caused would reach $2.4 million.

The judge warns that the amount of damage caused to the State may increase, so it is necessary to maintain the detention measure to Homsany.

 Fabrega Case
In the case of former Minister Fábrega, in a ruling of April 26, 2019, the Second Court of Justice confirmed the decision of the Eighth Court to deny  an appeal seeking to annul the proceeding against him.

The defense argued that the case should have been processed under the rules of the accusatory criminal system (SPA), because when summaries began, he served as government minister between 2012 and 2014. Prior to this, he was the director of the Transit Authority (2010-2012).

The magistrates, rejected the argument.