Fourth bridge consortium facing bribery record probe

The $1.5 billion contract for the. construction of the fourth bridge across the Panama Canal.will come under the microscope of a National Assembly sub-committee for 15 days starting Monday, August 26 as allegations swirl about the Chinese consortium’s track record of bribery.

The Committee on Public Infrastructure and Canal Affairs of the  National Assembly approved on Friday the creation of the sub-committee commission to investigate the tender, during the consortium’s appearance before the commission to answer a questionnaire of 11 questions about the project.

PRD  deputy, Crispiano Adames, who will be one of the members of the sub-committee, made several accusations against the companies, China Communications Construction Company, and China Harbor Engineering Company.

He said that the group has had corruption cases in several countries and was blacklisted by the World Bank for cases of bribes to officials.

Jennifer Croston, a legal advisor to the group of companies, said they should investigate before giving information about it.

Deputy Adames also questioned that the contract was awarded “quickly” in a “slow government”, referring to the administration of Juan Carlos Varela (nicknamed the tortoise), and that as part of the project a  $50 million restaurant is included.